Cary-Grove, CL South ready to rumble

The moment of truth has nearly arrived for the undefeated football teams from Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South.

Will Cary-Grove continue its run of Fox Valley Conference supremacy?

Or will CL South become the first FVC team since 2003 to beat the Trojans in a game that counts in the league standings?

All questions will be answered Friday night at 7:15 p.m., when the Gators visit Al Bohrer Field in Cary for a showdown before a packed house that will likely decide the Valley Division title in the FVC.

Cary-Grove (7-0, 3-0) is the No. 2 team in Class 6A this week. The Trojans have won 36 straight conference games, a remarkable run that started in Week 9 of the 2003 season. The program has gone 55-6 the past six seasons combined and has won 5 straight undefeated titles in the FVC. With only Dundee-Crown (1-6) remaining on the schedule, a win against the Gators would virtually guarantee title No. 6.

CL South (7-0, 3-0) is ranked No. 5 in Class 7A and has compiled a record of 45-14 since 2004. The Gators have beaten the Trojans in the playoffs twice since 2005, including last year's 14-7 Class 7A quarterfinal victory, but they haven't been able to upend Cary-Grove in five regular-season meetings since 2002.

"It's in the backs of our minds, no doubt about it," CL South coach Jim Stuglis said of Cary-Grove's regular-season dominance. " For whatever reason, they get us first and maybe we've had the ability to make some adjustments in the second (game). We're hoping that's not the case, but it won't be a surprise one way or the other."

Stuglis and Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay agree the key to victory will be winning in the trenches.

"I think it's going to be about the line play, I really do," Kay said. "Their ability to block us and our ability to block them is the No. 1 factor."

Cary-Grove's offensive line per man is 30 pounds larger on average compared to last season. That upgrade is most pronounced in a player like senior center Hayden Baker, whose 6-toot-2, 245-pound frame is 6 inches and 75 pounds heavier than last year's center.

Crystal Lake South's defensive linemen and linebackers are about as big as they come at the high school level, led by nose tackle Sam McCole (6-3, 280), junior defensive end Fahn Cooper (6-6, 270) and linebacker/fullback J.D. Barchard (6-2, 228).

"They're going to be very difficult to stop and score upon," Kay said. "They're so big they can take up two gaps just standing there. They've got college players over there, really. They have the kinds of kids that colleges are coming in and looking at because they have the height, they have the weight, they have the speed. For us it's about speed and fundamentals."

Firing out of the stance with low pad levels has allowed the Trojans to overcome size differentials in the past. This year they can also strike with the passing and pitching ability of senior quarterback Tyler Krebs, whose improvement in both areas has allowed the Cary-Grove option offense to attack with its full repertoire of weapons.

"We have to honor the play action," Stuglis said. "Last year we didn't care. We told our safeties, 'Don't worry about it. Just go.' This year it's a little different. That little hesitation step can give them an opportunity to get a seam and the next thing you know (Krebs) is gone."

A crowd of between 4,000-5,000 is expected, Kay said. Advance tickets are on sale at both schools through Friday, and tickets will also be available on game night.

Central vs. Hampshire: Burlington Central would like to play a game of role reversal on Friday when the Rockets face rival Hampshire in a Big Northern-East game at 7 p.m.

Last season, playoff-bound Hampshire put a damper on the Rockets' homecoming with a 21-0 victory on Rocket Hill. This year Central (3-4, 2-1) is the team still harboring playoff hopes, and the Rockets need to return the favor by handing Hampshire (2-5, 1-2) a loss on its homecoming to keep postseason hope alive. A win would set up a crucial game in Week 9 against Harvard (5-2, 2-1)

After playing and losing to league leaders Richmond-Burton and Harvard consecutively, the Whip-Purs bounced back last week to beat North Boone 26-7. Though the Whips won't be making a playoff return this season, this game should stoke the players' inner fire.

"Homecoming, Central... It's not hard to motivate them this week, that's for sure," Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said.

Of course, the rivalry angle cuts both ways.

"The teams have played each other for a long time," Central coach Aaron Wichman said. "They're neighborhood rivals and there are a lot of people in the school and a lot of alumni, and this is a big week for them."

Hampshire's Ron Laramie will be a watched man after rushing for 191 yards and 4 touchdowns last week.

"I think any time a single athlete scores 4 touchdowns in a game, the opponent the next week is going to take notice of that," Wichman said. "We'll definitely know where No. 34 is. I think they're quarterback (Ryan Burke) has done a nice job directing that offense since they made the switch. It looks like he can throw the ball pretty well when he has to and he does a good job leading them offensively with their running game."

The Central offense has improved of late as running back Tre Llanes, fullback Brandon Westergaard and quarterback Tim Maroder - all juniors - have grown more accustomed to their roles, Wichman said. The emergence of Llanes over the last 3 games (70 carries, 404 yards, 4 TDs) behind a young but improving offensive line has the Rockets moving in the right direction.

Battle tested: South Elgin took a needed day off on Columbus Day. The Storm deserved a break after playing seven games against one of the toughest schedules in the area.

South Elgin (5-2, 2-2 Upstate Eight) enters Friday's home finale against St. Charles North with 42 playoff points (combined wins by all opponents). That's the most playoff points of any Class 7A school, followed by McHenry (39) and Wheaton Warrenville South and Thornton (38).

"We've played a very difficult schedule, and we'll probably break 50 (playoff points)," South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. "To be 5-2 at this point, though we'd like to be and believe we could have been 7-0, we've played pretty well. We've been pretty competitive with a lot of juniors in our lineup against a very difficult schedule. I think the kids have done a great job."

End of a streak: The area's longest consecutive playoff appearance streak ended last Friday, when Bartlett endured its fifth loss in a 7-3 outcome against St. Charles East. The Hawks had reached the playoffs in nine previous seasons, capped by a Class 8A semifinal appearance in 2008.

Though Bartlett is 2-5 overall, its record doesn't illustrate just how competitively this team played in all but one game against Crystal Lake South, the No. 5 team in Class 7A. Otherwise, Bartlett lost 21-14 to Waubonsie Valley, 17-14 to South Elgin and fell in yet another close game against St. Charles East.

A broken collarbone suffered by key receiver/kick returner Zach Konstanzer in Week 2 took away the team's top offensive threat.

"We were right there, but it just didn't happen for us," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "With Konstanzer hurt and with some young players in key positions... penalties and fumbles also hurt us. It was a combination of things, but we just didn't get it done at times.

"I feel bad for the kids. I don't want them to think they're the ones who stopped the streak because they gave it everything they've got. They worked really hard and it's really a good bunch of kids. I told them after the (St. Charles East) game the other night, 'It wasn't meant to be this year.' "