Cary-Grove, Highland Park both on a roll
Two teams on rolls will tangle when No. 1 Cary-Grove meets No. 9 Highland Park in a Class 6A, second-round playoff game today at 1 p.m.
The game will be played on the artificial surface at Lake Forest High School.
Cary-Grove (10-0) enters the game undefeated. The Giants (7-3) opened the season 0-3 before winning 7 games in a row to take the Central Suburban League North title. Their losses came against north suburban powers Maine South, Warren and Stevenson, teams that entered this weekend with a combined 28-2 record.
"Their three losses are to excellent 8A teams," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "I think that, right off the bat, is an indicator."
The Trojans are enjoying yet another excellent season. The six-time champions from the Fox Valley Conference enter the second round of the playoffs undefeated for the fifth time in six seasons. They have outscored 10 opponents 456-83.
To beat the Giants, Cary-Grove's defense will have to limit the effectiveness of running back Jordan Reisner. The senior has rushed for 1,500 yards (8-yard avg.), including last week's 187-yard, 4-touchdown performance against overmatched Mather of the Chicago Public League. Reisner rushed for 3 scores and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cody Pantle.
"I think the first key for us defensively is to stop their real good running back," Kay said. "They like to run the ball and that kid makes plays. Fortunately, we've been good against the run all year, so if our strength is better than their strength..."
Cary-Grove's defense has allowed only 514 rushing yards this season. The job of stopping Reisner will fall to defensive linemen Jack McMullin, Matt Corcoran, Matt Liebforth and Rich Kersten, and senior linebackers Nick Underwood, Stu Gaulke and Kyle Liebforth.
Another Highland Park weapon is wide receiver Cole Stern. "He's our big-play guy, very fast," first-year coach Hal Chiodo said.
The Giants are led defensively by middle linebacker Brett Weiss (6-foot-3, 220 pounds). The senior was named CSL defensive player of the year for averaging 15.5 tackles per game.
A major factor in this game will be stamina, namely Highland Park's. The Giants have seven two-way players, including Reisner (defensive back) and Weiss (tight end). Cary-Grove's only two-way player is Matt Liebforth, a two-way lineman. However, even Liebforth doesn't play both ways full-time, often spelled by Kersten on defense.
"We're hoping that will lean in our favor," said Kay, who added that his team "looked like a real contender" in last week's 57-21 victory over St. Viator.
The winner will face the winner of No. 5 Chicago De La Salle (8-2) at No. 4 Crystal Lake Central (8-2), which takes place today at 1 p.m. The Trojans would play host to either team in the quarterfinals.