Scouting McHenry @ Cary-Grove

McHenry (3-3, 2-0) at Cary-Grove (6-0, 0-2)

When Today at 7:15 p.m. at Al Bohrer Field

Last year Cary-Grove 14, McHenry 6

Last week Cary-Grove 23, Huntley 0; McHenry 42, Dundee-Crown 20

Outlook The Trojans were finally given a game last week. In a steady rain, they led Huntley only 7-0 at the half before a third-quarter safety swayed the momentum in the Trojans' favor. It wasn't perfection, like the first five weeks often offered, but it was another solid victory. "It was a good wake-up call for our kids to recognize that blowouts occur typically when the other team's offense makes mistakes or their kicking game makes mistakes," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "Huntley didn't do that. We were the ones that made mistakes on the punts with blocking in the back and blocking below the waist. We were getting away with those when teams were leaving the ball on the 15-yard line, but that's not true now. I liked how we responded. It was a mudfest and a slugfest, and I thought we answered that call." McHenry gave Cary-Grove its closest test of the regular season last year. The Warriors must win 2 of their last 3 to become playoff eligible, not an easy task with Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South still on the schedule. Therefore, the Trojans will be facing a desperate team that plays fundamentally sound football, led by quarterback Thomas Rose (127 of 192, 1,368 yds., 7 TDs). "On offense they are very sound in what they're doing," Kay said. "I don't know if we'll be able to sack (Rose) because he gets rid of the ball quick, but we'll at least need to pressure him and we'll need to cover their routes. They have good concepts. They play good defense. They play low and they play fast." The Trojans have fumbled 3 times this season. Their opponents have fumbled 17 times. Of those 20 loose balls, Cary-Grove has recovered 18 of them.