A high-scoring win? Cary-Grove credits defense for stout work vs. defending champ St. Francis

Despite giving up five touchdowns, Cary-Grove’s defense turned in one of its best performances of the season Saturday afternoon.

Junior defensive back Zach Witt recorded two interceptions, as the Trojans (10-2) forced four turnovers on their way to a 55-36 Class 5A quarterfinal victory over St. Francis (7-6) in Cary.

After four minutes the Trojans held a 14-0 lead.

An interception by sophomore Leo Zavala helped set up Shamarion Prude’s 72-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead two minutes into the contest.

On the Spartans’ next possession, Witt’s diving interception set up Luke Ceresa’s 25-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 advantage.

“I couldn’t have drawn it up any better,” Trojans coach Brad Seaburg said of his team’s start.

“It’s a game of momentum and energy, and I feel like we captured both,” said Ceresa, who rushed for 60 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries.

Ceresa turned Zavala’s fumble recovery into a 27-14 lead with a four-yard touchdown run, and Witt’s second interception of the game set up Zavala’s 20-yard touchdown jaunt as the Trojans built a 34-14 halftime lead.

“It’s more about the coaches’ game plan,” Witt said of his two picks. “Our game plan is to play as a team.”

The four first-half turnovers served as a stunning blow for the Spartans.

“You can’t turn the ball over four times against a team like that,” said Spartans coach Bob McMillen.

“We have not turned teams over that much, and (the Spartans) have not turned the ball over like that all year,” Seaburg said. “I think the defense is the story of the day.

“Their offense was rolling. Their quarterback (Jadon Wilson) has an absolute cannon for an arm, their offensive line is unbelievably big, and they have a great running back, too. We needed those turnovers, and the offense took those and was able to score.”

The Trojans took the second-half kickoff and marched 65 yards in 11 plays, capped by Ceresa’s two-yard touchdown run, for an insurmountable 41-14 lead.

Prude (13 carries, 169 yards), quarterback Jackson Berndt (11 carries, 115 yards, TD), Ty Tenopir (29 yards, TD), and Zavala (28 yards, TD) helped account for the Trojans’ 430 yards rushing behind offensive linemen Patrick Bolf, Wyatt Poore, Andrew Schwarm, Jackson Smith, Eli Grant, Joey Anchor and tight end Jimmy Boldt.

“The offensive line made the line of scrimmage basically three yards down the field every play,” Ceresa said.

“We had no answers for (the triple-option offense) on defense,” McMillen said. “They have an answer for everything you do. It’s a tough offense to stop.

“We play in a tough conference, but we don’t face an offense like this.”

Wilson completed 17 of 28 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns for the defending Class 5A champion Spartans, while senior tailback Tivias Caldwell Jr. ran for 146 yards and a touchdown.

Cary-Grove hosts Sycamore in next weekend’s semifinals.

“We’re one of four — which is a really amazing place to be,” Seaburg said.