MORRIS — While Peoria High rolled up another game of big offensive numbers, it was two big defensive plays that stood out in the Lions’ 43-35 Class 5A state semifinal victory Saturday.

The Lions (12-1), who lost only the regular-season finale, are in a state championship game for the second time in school history and first since 1988. They will play Vernon Hills (10-3) at 10 a.m. next Saturday in Champaign.

Jaleen James and Eli Horton each had fourth-down stops in the second half that changed the momentum of the game and put the Lions in control.

“It’s surreal, it’s unbelievable,” Horton said of reaching the state championship game. “This is probably the best moment in most of these guy’s lives.”

The James tackle in the backfield came with 6.7 seconds left in the third quarter after Morris rallied from two scores down to tie the game. Morris looked to be moving the ball for a third consecutive drive until the James play.

The Redskins had fourth down-and-2 at its own 48 and looked to be trying to draw the Lions off sides on a hard count. Instead, Morris snapped the ball, and James was as quick to the ball as if he was on offense. Four-yard loss.

“We made some changes and closed some things down,” James said. “They’re a great team, they were moving the ball. We knew we just had to make plays. I was just trying to get into the (backfield) and to the quarterback as quick as possible.”

One play after the big tackle, Peoria High all-state quarterback Coran Taylor went 44 yards for a tie-breaking touchdown as the third quarter ended.

“They had some momentum going, but we made some changes,” Horton said. “We concentrated on our keys and our reads and made some plays.”

Said Peoria High coach Tim Thornton: “They’re a tough team and they had things going. But we made some big plays. We made some adjustments along the line of scrimmage and went to some things we did early in the season.”

Horton’s tackle was for a 1-yard loss at his own 24. And he later recovered a fumble.

“That’s a senior making senior plays,” Thornton said.

By the time Peoria High started the game’s opening possession, the swirling wind had changed and was going straight at the Lions. It brought back memories of last year’s quarterfinal loss at New Lenox Lincoln-Way West, when an ill wind blew straight at the Lions and brought about a quick deficit.

This time, the Lions went 88 yards on the opening drive and Geno Hess ran 49 yards for the first of his five touchdowns.

“The wind had me thinking about Lincoln-Way,” Thornton said. “That was huge to come out and move the ball like that and score right away.”

Hess finished with 274 yards on the ground. James had 133 and Taylor 107.

The six rushing scores gave the Lions 85 for the season and set the single-game state mark. Carthage had 81 in 2000. Peoria High is two points shy of setting Illinois' single-season scoring record.

But, more importantly, Peoria High is one win away from the school’s first state championship.

“It’s just incredible,” James said. “This is what we were talking about at the start of the summer. This is why we work our butts off in the summer and work so hard in the weight room, to get to this point and this chance.”

David Allen can be reached at 686-3214 or dallen@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpudPJS.