Cary-Grove makes it 9-0 again

A perfect 9-0 slate is the ultimate goal for high school football teams in Illinois.

But, in recent years it has been the norm for the Cary-Grove Trojans.

For the fourth time in 5 years, the Trojans finished the regular season with a perfect slate after a hard fought 14-6 win over McHenry in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division game at McHenry's McCracken Field Friday night. The game was delayed by an hour by lightning and was played In a steady rain. It was the Trojans' fifth straight conference title.

"It was a very hard night to play," said Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay. "We were limited to what we could do. But the kids responded and did a great job."

It was the Trojan (9-0, 5-0) defense which won the game with an incredible goal line stand early in the fourth quarter.

Nursing a tenuous 14-6 lead, the Trojans stopped McHenry three times at the 1-yard line. On fourth-and-1, McHenry fullback Jacob Kraus attempted to reach paydirt, but Cary-Grove corner back Eric Mago broke through the line to stop Kraus short of the goal line.

"We have really been clicking defensively every day in practice," said Mago. "We are not taking plays off and working hard. That hard work paid off tonight. On the goal line stand we got a great surge and everybody went to the ball."

Kay praised the defensive effort.

"That goal line stand was incredible," said Kay. "The defense has played great all season and they played liked champions tonight."

The Trojan defense, which didn't allow a touchdown, held McHenry (3-6, 2-3) to 154 total yards and 7 first downs.

McHenry scored first as sophomore linebacker Tyler Helton scooped up a Trojan fumble and rambled 63 yards for a touchdown with 4:36 left before the half. The extra point was blocked and the Warriors held a 6-0 lead.

The Trojans' offense responded by marching 72 yards on 8 plays, capped by a 39-yard run by Eric Chandler with 1:43 left. Chandler's extra point gave the Trojans the lead for good.

Cary-Grove added an insurance score on the first drive of the second half. The Trojans traveled 61 yards on 12 plays, capped by a 1-yard run by Tyler Krebs. The extra point kick by Chandler was good and the Trojans held an 8-point lead.

Chandler led the Trojans with 102 yards on 17 carries. Alex Hembrey,

who has nursed an ankle injury for 5 weeks, gained 77 yards on 16 carries.

Standout placekicker Marcus Kerrigan missed the game with back problems. Kay is hoping Kerrigan is ready for next week's first round playoff game.