Cary-Grove vs. Huntley promises to be special

Valley Division play within the Fox Valley Conference opens with a bang Friday night when defending champion Cary-Grove (4-0) visits Huntley (4-0), which finished second last season.

Cary-Grove, the 2014 Class 7A state runner-up, is ranked third in this week's Class 6A Associated Press poll, having outscored its opponents 153-41. Junior fullback Tyler Pennington has rushed for 501 yards and 6 touchdowns in 95 attempts (5.1 avg.).

Huntley, led by returning all-FVC Valley picks like quarterback Anthony Binetti, linebackers Tim McCloyn and Daniel Dennis and cornerback Tim Ryan, has outscored its opponents 180-66.

The Red Raiders seek the program's first win against Cary-Grove, which has won 17 of its last 18 games. The Red Raiders, winners of 12 of their last 14, lost a 42-14 decision to the Trojans last season.

Temporary bleachers are being added to handle the expected overflow crowd for this highly anticipated matchup. The Trojans are used to such measures.

"We've been in the big games, played in the big games and we've experienced a lot of things this game may or may not be," Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. "One thing we know is that this is the regular season and we get to play again next week no matter what. We'll give it our best effort and go from there. Whether we win or lose, none of our goals will be achieved in this game. If we get our fifth win, we'll be in the playoffs. That's how we're approaching it."

The Red Raiders have yet to defeat Cary-Grove in three tries since coach John Hart took over. Huntley's coach said Wednesday he feels no pressure to beat the Trojans specifically.

"One game is not going to determine our success as far as our program is concerned," Hart said, "but it's a great measuring stick to see if we can compete at a high level long enough to beat a good team."

Hart acknowledges the Trojans have a special player in Pennington.

"They had a player going to Notre Dame and (Trevor) Ruhland was great last year too, but I thought Pennington was the best player I watched in the playoffs last year," he said. "And, arguably, he is the best player this year to this point. You're not going to shut him out. But we can play assignment-oriented football and get a pad on him. He's still going to get his, but we can limit his success if we stay disciplined enough."

Saluting Schabert: A ceremony will be held before South Elgin's Saturday homecoming game against Larkin to honor the service of Dale Schabert, who taught and coached at both schools.

A graduate of Larkin and Northern Illinois, Schabert's career began in District 300 in 1979. It ends next June when he retires from the South Elgin physical education department.

"Considering we're playing Larkin, I figured this would be a real nice opportunity to thank Dale for everything he's done," said South Elgin athletic director Jason Ward, who will present the coach with a commemorative plaque.

Saturday marks only the second meeting between South Elgin and Larkin, though they've both been members of the Upstate Eight since the Storm joined the league in 2006-07.

The first football coach in South Elgin history, Schabert started the program from scratch and led the varsity for seven seasons to a 28-38 record. He guided South Elgin to its first playoff berth in 2009 and another in 2010. His final two teams went 4-5, and he stepped down in July of 2013.

Schabert came to South Elgin in 2005-06, following an 11-year tenure as Larkin's head coach. He directed the Royals to a 61-47 record and seven playoff appearances, highlighted by a quarterfinal trip in 1999.

He finished his head coaching career with an overall record of 89-85 in 18 seasons, which followed 13 years as an assistant at Dundee High School, Elgin and Larkin.

However, Schabert's won-loss record isn't what he savors most when looking back at his career.

"I've gotten some emails from former players who've found out I'm not coaching anymore and the neat thing is they talk to me about everything but football," the former coach said Wednesday. "They talk to me about the things teachers and coaches, not just me but all their teachers, told them that helped them become the successful people they are. I think that's pretty cool.

"It's a good profession and I'm proud to have done it. I always tell people I don't go to work, I go to a career. Going to a career is a lot different than going to work."

As for the long days associated with being a high school football coach, those aren't missed.

"The first Monday we were in school after I stopped coaching I thought about the guys going out to practice and said, 'How the heck could they be out there for four hours at the end of a long day? Holy cow.'

"Coaching two sports (football and track) with all the weight room sessions and summer camp stuff? I look back on it now and wonder how I ever did it for so long."

Finally: Geneva has been spending a lot of time working on blocking extra-point attempts in practice, and it paid off at the best possible time Saturday against St. Charles North.

After Eric Lins ran 80 yards to give the North Stars a 41-35 lead with three minutes left in the Upstate Eight River clash, Geneva senior Griffin Bellano broke through the line and blocked the point-after kick.

That play became the difference in the game when Sean Chambers threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Skibinski with 29 seconds remaining for a 42-41 Geneva win.

"We've been working so hard on the blocks," Wicinski said. "We've been working three weeks. We saw the whole game, the wing was coming out and Bellano was coming through free. We were shocked he was coming through free."

Bellano also added the final dagger by intercepting Zach Mettetal's pass on the last play of the game.

Mettetal had been a thorn in Geneva's side all afternoon, throwing for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Fortunately for the Vikings, their quarterback Chambers was just as dangerous with his 296 yards passing and 3 touchdowns.

"He's got a strong arm, makes good decisions," Wicinski said. "He kept his poise. He threw one (interception), he walks off the field like nothing happened. He's always been the guy. He's got swag and feels like he can do it, which you kind of like in a quarterback as long as he doesn't get too squirrely."

This is Chambers' third year on varsity but first as the starting quarterback. He backed up Daniel Santacaterina the past two years while starting at strong safety.

"Real heady kid," Wicinski said. "He doesn't blink. We were throwing it down the stretch. He was like, 'Let's go.'"

The key play on Geneva's game-winning, 75-yard drive came on 4th-and-10 from the North Stars' 42-yard line with 1:03 remaining.

Chambers found his favorite target Jack Wassel, who made 7 receptions for 168 yards, on a 17-yard completion.

"Clear out with a curl," Wicinski explained. "We give him and Sean the whole field to work and it's kind of a backyard play. Go to the manhole cover and make a left and now you are at the Buick."

Four plays later the Vikings found the end zone. Skibinski ran the same slant he did on the fourth down play when Chambers went to Wassel instead. Skibinski said he was open on that one, and he was again this time, diving for the catch that gave Geneva the win.

"That was pretty good coverage by the (St. Charles North) kid. Seemed he was on his hip," Wicinski said. "But we always say, 'If he's even, he's leading. If he's even, throw it.' We told Sean don't hold it because you don't have a ton of time.

​"I liked their poise and communication down the stretch. They have been doing it all summer, they have been doing it all year."

The win keeps Geneva (4-0, 2-0) ahead of St. Charles North (3-1, 1-1) in the race to dethrone Batavia, which has won 28 straight conference games dating back to a 38-28 loss to the North Stars in 2010.

Wicinski had nothing but praise for what coach Rob Pomazak is building at St. Charles North.

"We knew St. Charles North was going to be good," Wicinski said. "I love what Rob is doing with the program. I have so much respect for him."

John Lemon contributed to this story.