MAPLE PARK – The Kaneland football team's defense had Nebraska-bound receiver Jordan Westerkamp in check most of the night.

With a Class 5A state championship game berth on the line, though, Westerkamp was not to be denied.

Westerkamp caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Montini quarterback John Rhode with 2:03 left in the game, the decisive play in the Broncos' 35-31 comeback win against Kaneland, eliminating the Knights in the state semifinals for the second straight year.

"Our kids played their hearts out," Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said. "I was so proud of our team."

Kaneland sophomore quarterback Drew David, who was 16-for-31 passing for 165 yards, threw a touchdown pass to Zack Martinelli and ran for one in the third quarter as Kaneland took a 31-21 lead entering the final quarter.

"Drew was so poised back there," Fedderly said. "He played one of the best first halves that I can remember. He was making audibles, doing all of the things we wanted him to do. Our team played their hearts out, and I couldn't be any prouder."

But a 31-yard run by Dimitri Taylor cut the lead to 31-28 with 11:30 to go, and the Broncos' vaunted air game would soon kick into gear.

Westerkamp, an all-state receiver, was bottled up for most of the night. Facing double- and triple-coverage all game, the star receiver didn't catch a pass for the first three quarters.

But the 6-foot-1, 200 pound senior came up big when it counted.

Westerkamp caught four passes in the fourth quarter for 67 yards, including a 30-yard reception that seemed bound for a Kaneland defensive back.

But none was more important than his touchdown catch up the middle that gave the two-time defending state champion Broncos a spot in the state championship game.

"It's unbelievable," Westerkamp said. "He called my number on that play and I knew I had to make a big play. It was a perfect pass and our line blocked great and I was able to make that grab. It was awesome. We never folded, we never backed down and we never gave up. We knew there would be some adversity we had to overcome."

After a slow start, both offensive juggernauts found their grooves.

After the Broncos (11-2) took 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on a touchdown run from Joseph Borsellino, Kaneland running back Jesse Balluff responded with an 81-yard touchdown.

With 10 seconds left in the first quarter, Montini running back Dimitri Taylor scored on a 48-yard run, but Balluff (143 rushing yards, 69 receiving yards) again responded with a  16-yard TD run on the next drive to tie the score at 14.

"I can't wait to see [Balluff] the last two years," Fedderly said.

The Knights (12-1) took the lead later in the second quarter on a 26-yard field goal from Matt Rodriguez, and held it until Westerkamp's winning touchdown.

Kaneland turned the ball over on downs near midfield on its last gasp after the Westerkamp TD.

Though the loss stings, Fedderly knew his team couldn't do anything more.

"It was a big-time player making a big-time play," he said.

"Our team played their hearts out and it's too bad we had to lose. They came out and competed and they didn't back down. That's what we did all year. I've never been prouder."