Can Cary-Grove continue the magic?
Cary-Grove drew an opponent from the Rockford-based NIC-10 Conference for Saturday's 1 p.m. quarterfinal, a favorable draw of late.
The Fox Valley Conference teams own a record of 12-3 against NIC-10 teams since 2000.
However, No. 11 Cary-Grove (8-3) happened to draw No. 2 Boylan Central Catholic (11-0), the only NIC-10 program that bucks the trend. The Titans own a 3-1 postseason record against FVC schools in the last decade, though they didn't face Cary-Grove.
When the Trojans and Titans square off at Al Bohrer Field in Cary, it will mark the first time they've met since a first-round playoff game in 1996, which Boylan won 34-7.
“I think the Fox Valley has become a better conference in the last 10 years, no doubt about it,” said ninth-year Boylan coach Dan Appino, who has the Titans in the playoffs for the sixth straight season and 19th time in 20 years. “I think their depth as well as the overall quality of their teams have improved.
“I've been around long enough to remember 20 years ago. You kind of got excited out here if you drew a Fox Valley team. Now it's just the opposite. Now it's like, ‘Oh no.' It's almost like a Catholic League draw now because the Fox Valley Conference has gotten so much better.”
The 2010 Titans have outscored 11 opponents 500-104. They have played only one close game all season, a 28-20 victory in Week 7 at Belvidere (4-5). Boylan otherwise blew out eight NIC-10 opponents by an average margin of 43 points. Boylan then defeated playoff teams Addison Trail (5-5) and Richards (8-3) by 24 and 22 points, respectively.
Will Cary-Grove be able to withstand the physical nature of the Boylan team they've seen on film?
“They run through people,” C-G coach Bruce Kay said of the Titans. “They play very fast and physical. If we can neutralize their physicality, then we'll have a chance to win the game. But if they run us over, this is going to be a long day.”
Boylan is just as wary of Cary-Grove's option offense.
“They have the size of Illinois and the discipline of Air Force,” Appino said. “It's really a scary combination of those elements. It's the most complete team we've seen so far.
“Defensively, we've got a huge challenge in front of us trying to stop that line up front. We have to play good first-down defense. That's a key for us. We need to put them in passing situations because that's not what they prefer to do. I'm not sure we can do that.”
Boylan's spread offense is led by running back Tyreis Thomas (118 carries, 1,251 yards, 12 TD) and quarterbacks Frank Cimino (78-578-4) and Lamont Toney (62-320-1). The two quarterbacks have also combined for 1,066 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.
“They don't really throw as much as you'd think being a spread team,” Kay said. “They spread you out and they block and run. That's a problem to begin with. And they've got good speed, so that's really going to put stress on the defense.”
The Titans are led defensively by senior middle linebacker Grant Flodin (5-10, 185), the team's leading tackler, junior defensive tackle Dean Lowry (6-5, 225) and senior outside linebacker Sam James (6-3, 180). Senior Chris Miller (5-11, 180) logs double duty at free safety and running back.
The Trojans counter offensively with sophomore running backs Patrick O'Malley (841 yards, 11 TD) and Ryan Mahoney (835 yards, 11 TD) and junior Andrew Sobeski (269 yards, 3 TD).