Published: November 15, 2009 01:45 am      

Vikes experience wins out

DHS overcomes 14-point deficit to beat Lemont

Experience proved to be the difference Saturday afternoon at Ned Whitesell Field.

While the Lemont Indians were proud of their back-to-back state championship game appearances, it was a three-year starter from Danville that made the game’s biggest play.

Derrick Cunningham hauled in a 60-yard scoring strike from Vikings quarterback Malcolm Anderson to lead Danville past Lemont 18-14 before more than 4,000 fans that complete encircled Ned Whitesell Field.

“He has made big plays for us since he was a sophomore,’’ Danville coach B.J. Luke said. “He was a due for a big one and he came through.’’

Ironically, the play that Luke called for Cunningham was not one that the Vikings had run all season.

“It worked because we weren’t going to his side that much,’’ said Anderson, who was 11-of-21 for 234 yards and two touchdowns. “They saw that and they started cheating in.

“We noticed that on the field and the coaches saw it as well. So, coach called for us to go after them.’’

Cunningham, who had just one reception for 8 yards in his past four games, said he had to make a play.

“Coach has been pushing me all week in practice and he said it would pay off,’’ Cunningham said. “No. 9 (Nicholas Forzley) was a great cornerback, and he played me well all game. But coach saw that he was playing me inside. He told me to run as fast as you can down the sideline.

“I’m not one of the fastest receivers, but coach saw a mismatch and he went to it. It was a great call and a great play.’’

Forzley was right with Cunningham off the line, but the Lemont senior seemed to slip and that left the Danville senior wide open.

“I saw the cornerback fall and then I started thinking about going to the house. The ball came right into my hands,’’ he said. “I can’t describe how it felt. I wish I could do it all over again.’’

Surprising that one of the most talkative Danville players was left speechless after the game-winning score.

“Oh, I’ve got a lot of words, but I can’t tell you how it felt,’’ he said. “It was unbelievable.’’

Cunningham’s catch with 6 minutes, 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter capped Danville’s comeback from a 14-point deficit.

“We weren’t worried because we have been here before. We were down at halftime against Oak Lawn Richards,’’ said Cunningham, noting that the Vikings overcame a 10-point deficit (20-10) to win its second-round contest 30-20. “This group of seniors have so much fight, that we never believe its over until the clock hits zeroes.’’

With that in mind, the Vikings defense still had some work left to secure the school’s first semifinal berth since 1978.

Danville’s defense, which is also known as the Meat House, turned on its grinder for the final two Lemont possessions.

“Their two touchdowns were the defensive line’s fault,’’ Danville senior defensive end Cameron Ford said. “If we would have lost this game, it would have been on the defensive line.

“So, we decided that they weren’t going to move the ball any more and they were definitely not going to score again.’’

The Indians (10-2) first possession in the final six minutes was a three-and-out.

Danville had an opportunity to put the game away but a pair of runs netted a 6-yard loss.

So on third-and-16 from the Danville 45, the Vikings went with a quick kick. Anderson’s boot landed about the 20 and rolled to a stop on the Lemont 3-yard line.

“That’s an old-school play,’’ Luke said.

If the Indians were going to pull out the victory, they had to go 97 yards in 3:11. Lemont had managed just 20 yards in its previous six possessions.

Danville senior defensive end Shavon Morris put the finishing touches on the victory.

Morris, a 5-8, 210-pound defensive end, followed up his second sack of the contest by batting down Cyr’s pass on fourth down.

“He’s 5-foot-8, he should be able to get up there and block those passes,’’ Luke said.

But, how does he do it against an offensive line that is clearly several inches taller and at least 50 pounds heavier?

“Heart. That little guy has as much heart as this whole city,’’ Danville defensive coordinator Steve Luke said.

Morris claimed that he had to do it for the team and for the city of Danville.

“When you want something bad enough, you do it,’’ he said. “We’re just a bunch of kids from Danville, playing hard and playing with heart.’’

And what was he thinking about on that final series.

“Getting to the quarterback, getting to the quarterback, getting to the quarterback,’’ he said.

With the victory, Danville (12-0) ties the school’s all-time win mark set by the state runner-up team in 1976.

“It means that we are going to semis,’’ B.J. Luke said of the win. “It means that we are back to being one of the top programs in the state of Illinois.’’

Up next for the Vikings are the No. 1-rated New Lenox Providence Catholic Celtics, a 44-14 winner over Crete-Monee.

“I don’t know if the Chicago Catholic League champion have ever had to come to Danville to get to the state championship,’’ B.J. Luke said. “We are fired up to have them and hosting their outstanding program. We know that they are a great program. We know they are the hands-down pick to win this thing, but they still have to come to Danville.

“I think my guys will be ready to play.’’