Scouting Crystal Lake South @ Cary-Grove

Crystal Lake South (7-0, 3-0) at Cary-Grove (7-0, 3-0)

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

Last year: Cary-Grove 24, CL South 7 (regular season); CL South 14, Cary-Grove 7 (Class 7A quarterfinal)

Last week: CL South 41, Huntley 0; Cary-Grove 31, McHenry 28

Outlook The closest margin of victory this season for Crystal Lake South, the No. 5 team in Class 7A, was by 21 points in the season opener against Grant. The Gators have taken care of business early in every game since. Therefore, the starters haven't played full games in most contests prior to this de facto clash for the Valley Division title. "Not having full games and full-game speed the whole time is something we're worried about because you can't simulate that," Gators coach Jim Stuglis said. "These kids haven't faced fourth-quarter pressure yet, so what's going to happen when we get to that point? I don't envision a game where somebody's going to be blowing the game out in the fourth quarter." Cary-Grove, which dropped from the top spot in Class 6A to No. 2 following a close call against McHenry, similarly blew out the first five teams it faced. However, Huntley and McHenry weren't as turnover prone as earlier opponents and gave the Trojans better tests in which the starters needed to play four quarters. Last week Cary-Grove needed a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Krebs to running back Alex Hembrey on fourth-and-4 down with 24 seconds left to escape with a win. The Trojans led that game 24-7 in the fourth quarter, but an unfavorable call on a fair catch and a turnover tested their collective mettle in a pressure situation. The offense responded to McHenry's go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 15-play drive in under three minutes to win the game. "The more I think about that last drive - the circumstances that led up to it and the level at which McHenry was playing - it's a tremendous feeling," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "We played under pressure, and I think we performed well under pressure." The Gators won the most recent battle between these rivals, winning 14-7 last year in a Class 7A state quarterfinal. However, the Trojans have won the last five regular-season meetings and enter this contest with a 36-game winning streak in league games. These teams know each other well, so the winner will be the team that best executes the basics. "Whoever blocks and tackles better wins," Stuglis said. "You can scheme all you want, but the bottom line is it will boil down to the five guys on the offensive line and the three guys on the defensive line who will make the difference for both sides."