Kaneland routs Morris to cap 9-0 regular season

Two minutes and 20 seconds into the Kaneland-Morris game, it appeared a shootout was in the works.

The teams traded touchdowns on the opening seven plays from scrimmage in their Big Northern 12 East Conference regular-season finale Friday night in Maple Park.

But the Knights had no intentions of allowing their longtime former rivals in the Little Seven any breathing space.

Kaneland completed its first flawless regular season since its 1998 squad concluded back-to-back Class 3A state-championship runs with a convincing 47-7 victory over Morris.

"What a great first half that was," Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said after the Knights hit Morris with five unanswered touchdowns to take a commanding 41-7 lead at the break. "It was just a complete team effort. We have a lot of weapons."

Joe Camiliere, Blake Serpa and Tyler Andrews were recognized prior to the game during the Knights' senior night festivities, and the Kaneland triumvirate was unstoppable once the game started.

Camiliere connected on 9 of 11 passes for 235 yards and a pair of scores while running for two other touchdowns.

The senior did not even attempt a pass in the second half.

Serpa shined in all phases of the game.

With the Knights (9-0, 5-0) leading 14-7 after the second of the Camiliere keepers for scores, Serpa broke through Morris' line and blocked a punt for an unmolested 30-yard touchdown scamper.

"I was surprised I was able to get through the line," Serpa said. "I just stuck my hand up, and the ball bounced right to me."

The Knights' defense, meanwhile, denied Morris (6-3, 3-2) deep in its own territory with fourth-down stops the next two series.

"That's something we have been talking about all year is bending but not breaking," Fedderly said. "(The defense) really is a special group."

Camiliere would soon orchestrate another crisp scoring drive, hitting Andrews with double-digit connections to set up an 11-yard score to Quinn Buschbacher.

Serpa and Camiliere then collaborated on the offensive play of the game after the Knights forced another Morris loss of downs.

With Buschbacher drawing attention to the inside, Serpa circled out of the backfield down the right sideline.

Camiliere hit Serpa in stride, and the Knights' lead was stretched to 34-7 with the resulting 81-yard catch and run.

"Joe just made a good throw, a perfect throw," Serpa said.

"(Serpa) did a good job of running a good route and beating everybody once he caught the ball," Camiliere said.

Andrews supplied the coup de grace late in the half after a Kaneland fumble.

With Morris seeking some sort of momentum before the break, the senior stepped in front of pass in the flat and was off the races from a 76-yard interception return.

Senior Curtis Secrest closed out the scoring with a 25-yard burst with 63 seconds to play.

"Give (Kaneland) all the credit in the world, because that's a real good team," Morris coach Alan Thorson said. "They are so versatile."

Kjeld Torkelson had Morris' lone score on a 30-yard connection from quarterback Austin Feeney.