KANKAKEE — In a Friday night showdown, the Kankakee Kays, ranked No. 2 in IHSA Class 6A, secured an 81-0 victory over Southland Athletic Conference rival Thornridge.
Kankakee’s dominance triggered the second-half running clock mercy rule. Kankakee’s defense immediately set the tone, forcing a three-and-out and capitalizing on a high snap during Thornridge’s punt, resulting in a safety and a 2-0 lead.
After the first quarter, running back Tony Phillips had scored two 20+ yard touchdowns increasing the lead to 54-0.
By halftime, Kankakee led 68-0, adding two more scores in the second quarter. Overall the K’s capitalized showcasing depth, putting up six offensive touchdowns, four defensive touchdowns, and a special teams score from seven players.
Thornridge’s offense gained only three yards offense throughout the game.
This victory, though dominant, falls short of the 1927 record when Haven High School in Kansas defeated Sylvia High School 256-0. In 2021, Inglewood High School in California scored a controversial 106-0 blowout against Inglewood Morningside, raising criticism and a response from the Inglewood Unified School District.
Kankakee (3-0) now prepares for Riverside-Brookfield next, aiming to maintain their momentum.
