IHSA football semifinals: Morton loses to Kankakee in Class 5A playoffs

The Morton Potters lost to the Kankakee Kays 41-14 in the semifinals of the Illinois High School Association Class 5A football playoffs.

The Kays (13-0) will face Oak Park Fenwick (11-2) at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Kankakee, in its only semifinal since 2008, will be making its first state championship appearance.

Morton running back Seth Glatz finished his incredible season with 186 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns — one rushing and another on a 95-yard kickoff return after Kankakee had scored on the first play of the game.

Morton (10-3), co-champion of the Mid-Illini Conference, was making its first appearance in a state semifinal.

4:50 p.m. — Seth Glatz steps in

Morton gets on the board late on a 4-yard touchdown run from Seth Glatz — his 46th of the season.

Kankakee 41, Morton 14 | 2:37 | fourth quarter

4:42 p.m. — Kankakee takes one back

Naz Hill takes an interception 79 yards back for a touchdown and Kankakee has put this game away.

Morton's Mac Anderson blocks to the point after touchdown.

Kankakee 41, Morton 7 | 5:55 | fourth quarter

4:35 p.m. — Seth Glatz hurt, returns to the game

While playing defense, Seth Glatz was down with an injury after the first play of the fourth quarter. It appears to be a shoulder. He returned to the game on Morton's first possession after the injury.

Kankakee 35, Morton 7 | 10:30 | fourth quarter

4:32 p.m. — Kankakee keeps pouring it on

Pierre Allen grabs another touchdown pass, this one a 15-yarder from quarterback Tomele Staples. The Kays are pulling away.

Kankakee 35, Morton 7 | 11:47 | fourth quarter

4:25 p.m. — Kankakee gets turnover and is threatening

Kankakee intercepts Morton on fourth down toward the end of the third quarter and Jyaire Hill returns it deep into Potters territory.

Kays will start the fourth quarter at the Morton 15.

Kankakee 28, Morton 7 | start of fourth quarter

4:21 p.m. — Kankakee extends the lead

Nate Hill caps a sustained drive with a bruising 4-yard TD run. The two-point conversion pass puts the Kays ahead three touchdowns.

Kankakee 28, Morton 7 | 2:33 | third quarter

4:15 p.m. — Morton's first drive stalls

Morton's first drive of the second half ends when a fourth-down pass is complete — but the receiver is forced out of bounds just before the first down. Kankakee takes over with about 7 minutes left in the third

Kankakee 20, Morton 7 | third quarter

3:56 p.m. — Morton vs. Kankakee halftime stats

Kankakee has 267 total yards (113 passing, 154 rushing).

Morton has 115 total yards (51 passing, 64 rushing). Senior running back Seth Glatz has 56 yards on 14 carries, plus a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Morton will receive the second-half kickoff.

3:53 p.m. — Kankakee leads at halftime

Morton completes a few passes to get across midfield in the final seconds, but Kankakee intercepts a pass in the final seconds to end the Potters' threat.

The two teams combined to score 20 points in the first four minutes of the game, but its been a defensive struggle since.

Kankakee 20, Morton 7 | halftime

3:44 p.m. — Kankakee extends its lead

Quarterback Tomele Staples hits on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Allen over the middle to extend the lead for Kankakee.

Kankakee 20, Morton 7 | 0:56 | second quarter

3:38 p.m. — Kankakee forces a turnover

Kankakee defense stops Morton on fourth down, and also forces a turnover.

After a fast start, the pace of the game has slowed as the teams are trading defensive blows.

Kankakee 13, Morton 7 | 1:56 | second quarter

3:33 p.m. — Morton makes a stand

A sack on fourth down gives the ball back to Morton on their own 20 with 8:30 remaining in the second quarter.

Kankakee 13, Morton 7 | 8:15 | second quarter

3:27 p.m. — Kankakee leads after one quarter

A Morton drive stalls inside the red zone just before the end of the quarter. Kankakee will have the ball as the second quarter begins.

Kankakee 13, Morton 7 | end of first quarter

3:15 p.m. — One Class 5A finalist set

The other Class 5A semifinal goes final. Oak Park Fenwick beat Sycamore 17-6 to advance to the title game.

The winner of this game faces Oak Park Fenwick at 10 a.m. next Saturday in DeKalb.

3:12 p.m. — Kankakee jumps back ahead

Back and forth we go. Quarterback Tomele Staples hits on an 11-yard pass to Maurice Burkes over the middle and Kankakee jumps back ahead.

Kankakee 13, Morton 7 | 8:34 | first quarter

3:05 p.m. — ... and Morton comes right back

Morton running back Seth Glatz comes right back and scores on the ensuing kickoff 95-yard TD. Kick is good.

Morton 7, Kankakee 6 with 11:26 left in the first quarter.

3:03 p.m. — Kankakee strikes first

Jyaire Hill scores on a 68-yard TD run on game’s first offensive play. Run failed.

Kankakee 6, Morton 0, with 11:42 left in the first quarter.

2:28 p.m. — Morton takes the field

Morton is dressed in white jerseys with silver pants for their semifinal with Kankakee. They're running through warmups. About 30 minutes until kickoff.

Who's going to win? Morton vs. Kankakee

What's it going to take for Morton football to make the title game? Defense, says coach Tim Brilley. Kankakee brings a potent offense to the field, averaging 38.3 for the season, including a 43.7 per game output in the playoffs.

“Defensively, we're going have to find a way to get off the field,” Brilley said. “Get stops and not give up big plays, which is going be a challenge."

More Morton vs. Kankakee: Game preview for the Class 5A semifinal between Morton and Kankakee

What did Morton learn from rival's game with Kankakee?

Washington coach Darrell Crouch has game-planned for both of these 5A final four participants, so he has some pretty good insight on what the teams can expect from each other.

Related: What the Washington football coach learned from playing Morton and Kankakee

Why no Division I teams are pursuing Morton RB Seth Glatz

Morton running back Seth Glatz is on a historic tear during his senior season, rushing for 3,064 yards and 45 touchdowns — putting him among the nation’s leading rushers, according to MaxPreps.com. All that on-field production, and the 5-foot-11, 185-pound bell cow back has barely a whisper of college interest. Why?

Read more: Why no major programs have offered Morton's all-state running back

Morton vs. Kankakee pregame news

Morton quarterfinal: Star running back leads Morton football into first state semifinals

Kankakee quarterfinal: Kays' historic season continues with last-minute win

Nation's top rusher? Morton running back leads our takeaways from IHSA football quarterfinals

Second round: Morton runs into IHSA state quarterfinals

First round: Morton running back has record-setting playoff opener

5,000 calories a day? Diet regimen helps Morton running back pack a punch

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Morton vs Kankakee recap: IHSA football playoffs 5A semifinals