Providence overcomes Kankakee mistake to win 35-20

Providence football fans in Cook County can celebrate a playoff victory that came down to a defensive stand. The Celtics defeated Kankakee 35-20 on Saturday, securing a spot in the Class 5A Round of 16. The win ends Kankakee's season at 7-3 and marks the second straight year Providence has stopped the Kays in the postseason.

The turning point occurred after Kankakee failed to score from inside the five-yard line. The Kays moved the ball down the field but missed two scoring opportunities, took a delay of game penalty, and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down. Providence capitalized immediately with a 97-yard drive that ended with a rushing touchdown by Broden Mackert. That score gave Providence a 13-6 lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.

Mackert carried the ball 11 times in the first quarter alone. The junior had missed Weeks 7, 8, and 9 due to a calf injury and played a limited role in the first-round win over Mount Vernon. He finished the game with over 100 rushing yards, including runs of 48 and 24 yards in the first quarter. Providence quarterback Vita also contributed, connecting with DeAngelo Coates for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Kankakee started fast with a 74-yard touchdown pass from Phillip Turner to Kymani Billings on the first play of the game. Turner finished with 359 passing yards. The Kays also executed two fake punts to keep drives alive, but a missed field goal kept their lead slim at 6-0. Kankakee coach Ed Hazelett said the team failed to keep the ball in its own hands during a critical moment.

Providence coach Adam Nissen called the defensive stand "huge." He noted that if Kankakee had scored, the game would have had a different tone. Nissen also celebrated his birthday on the day of the win. Kankakee did bounce back mid-game with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Turner to Davion White. The Kays' defense also secured a pick-six by White to keep the lead intact at halftime.

The game featured a unique scoring play in the third quarter. Vita threw a short pass to Coates, who lateraled to Mackert as he was hit. Mackert caught the pitch and ran 72 yards for a touchdown. Nissen said the team practices this specific play weekly due to its potential for confusion in tight situations.

Kankakee's season now ends with losses to Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way West, and Providence. The Kays had beaten undefeated Lincoln-Way East in a previous matchup but fell to them in this cycle. Providence will face Morgan Park in the next round. Morgan Park defeated Oak Forest 40-16 in its earlier playoff game. The date and time for the Providence-Morgan Park matchup have not been determined yet.

Turner was the engine for Kankakee, throwing for nearly 360 yards despite pressure. The Kays also recorded a late touchdown from Turner to George Noble V to narrow the final margin. For Providence, the victory was built on stopping the opponent in the red zone and capitalizing on the resulting turnover.