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Article updated: 11/18/2012 12:25 AM

Next stop for Cary-Grove: Champaign

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Cary-Grove running back Ryan Mahoney, left, and quarterback Quinn Baker celebrate the Trojans' 42-14 victory over Lake Forest during Saturday's Class 6A football semifinal in Lake Forest.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Cary-Grove's Kyle Norberg (44) looks back at Lake Forest's Charles Moss, who is the closest defender, as he carries the ball for a touchdown during Saturday's Class 6A football semifinal in Lake Forest.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

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The game plan for Champaign was simple for top-seed Cary-Grove: be balanced, run what the defense allows and pound the ball with fullback Kyle Norberg. Lake Forest’s defense was prepared for all of that but there was one problem — the heavily-armed Trojan weaponry had other ammo. And in Saturday’s Class 6A semifinal in Lake Forest, it was halfback Ryan Mahoney. And boy did he shoot down some dreams for No.10 seed Lake Forest on the perimeter. After Cary-Grove allowed a touchdown on Lake Forest’s first drive resulting in the Trojans’ first deficit all season, Mahoney took the Trojans’ second offensive play 63-yards down the right sideline to even things up with 9:06 left in the first quarter. And it wasn’t the last time he’d burn the Scouts’ defensive backs. Mahoney emerged with 195 yards on 11 carries as he hit the perimeter often, including another touchdown on the next Trojan drive, while Norberg eventually punched in 3 touchdowns and rushed for 174 yards as Cary-Grove, with its 500 yards of total offense all coming on the ground, rushed to the 6A state championship game with a 42-21 win over Lake Forest Saturday afternoon
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    • Cary-Grove running back Ryan Mahoney, left, and quarterback Quinn Baker celebrate the Trojans’ 42-14 victory over Lake Forest during Saturday’s Class 6A football semifinal in Lake Forest.
    • Cary-Grove’s Kyle Norberg (44) looks back at Lake Forest’s Charles Moss, who is the closest defender, as he carries the ball for a touchdown during Saturday’s Class 6A football semifinal in Lake Forest.
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