The report says the opening half was closely contested before senior midfielder Angel Cruz broke the deadlock. Cruz then delivered the decisive moment soon after the interval, curling a free-kick beyond the Thornwood goalkeeper after Kankakee won a foul outside the area.
That second goal gave the Kays the cushion Mkhwanazi had identified as essential.
The set-piece finish was especially significant, with Cruz said to have worked on that type of delivery throughout the season.
The victory also carried emotional weight. Kankakee celebrated its final regular-season home match with 10 seniors involved, giving the occasion added meaning beyond the conference standings.
Forward Dylan Tapia reportedly went without a goal despite creating several opportunities, but his movement helped draw defenders away and open space for teammates. Behind them, goalkeeper Nathan Sanchez and senior defender Luis Angel Pereda were part of a defensive effort that kept Thornwood off the scoresheet.
Kankakee now faces the final fixture of the regular season with the conference race still finely balanced. The next result could determine whether this senior-night statement becomes the turning point of the campaign-or simply one more chapter before the postseason.