At 5 foot 7, 145 pounds, Sean Bonham is the shortest guy on the Kahoks football team, but he is not the smallest. He is a full five pounds heavier than that guy. Friday night in Granite City, Bonham stood as tall as anyone on the field, keying the Kahoks 20-point second-half comeback.

Sean Bonham returns an interception against Granite City / Photo by Roger Starkey

Entering Friday’s game, Bonham, a defensive back and kick returner, had zero carries for zero yards. But late in the fourth quarter, faced with a seven-point deficit and fourth-and-13 at the Warriors 42 yard line, Head Coach John Blaylock called the sophomore’s number, and he responded by ripping off a 21-yard run to keep the game-winning drive alive. It was arguably the play of the game.

Quarterback Jordan Reichert scored a touchdown five plays later to bring Collinsville to within 27-26 with 3:01 remaining. A penalty on the first two-point conversion attempt pushed the ball back to the 8-yard line, where Blaylock called Bonham’s number again, and he delivered, again, scampering into the end zone for the final two points of the Kahoks’ 28-27 victory.

Bonham’s offensive heroics were set-up by an equally brilliant play on the other side of the ball. On fourth-and-8 from the Collinsville 21, Granite City quarterback Gabe Jarman found a receiver open at the goal line and lofted a pass in his direction. Sprinting into the play, Bonham dove toward the end zone and managed to tip the ball away at the last second, preserving a Kahok seven-point deficit. CHS scored the game winning points on the subsequent drive.

Bonham also intercepted his first pass of the season in the first half. His first carry of the season came in the first half, when he ran for 18 yards.

Honorable mention

Reichert, last week’s Athlete of the Week, rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns, to go along with a 52-yard passing touchdown. His 52-yard touchdown rumble coming out of the half set the tone for the Kahoks’ comeback victory.

Jamal Wellmaker unofficially led the Kahoks with 119 yards rushing. He battled and juked for 41 yards during the game-winning drive and stutter-stepped his way to a first down on 3rd-and-8 on the next drive, icing the game. Wellmaker’s 17-yard carry on 2nd-and-goal from the 18 set up the final touchdown.

Grant Bauer and Jordan Smith scored two goals each this week to lead the soccer Kahoks.

Senior Alyssa Capizzi led the CHS volleyball team with eight aces, nine assists and four digs.