What Cary-Grove accomplished was far from easy
Cary-Grove lost a football game to Glenbard West 21-6 on Saturday but not before it took yet another step forward as a program.
The Trojans have been the model of consistency in the northwest suburbs since their breakthrough season of 2004, when they went 13-0 before losing to Libertyville in the title game.
However, the 2015 edition accomplished something no other Cary-Grove team can claim: a return to the semifinals a year after a title-game appearance.
A drop-off is common the year after making it to state, almost expected. There are exceptions, of course, but talented classes tend to move through public schools in cycles of two or three years. Last year's Trojans were senior dominated, and such senior leadership was a big reason they reached the Class 7A title game before losing to a very good Providence team.
The 2015 Trojans were an unknown quantity at the start of the season with juniors starting at approximately 80 percent of the positions. Only two starters returned on defense and one was Tyler Pennington, who doubled as the starting fullback and was held back from playing linebacker until the stretch run.
Getting back to a semifinal and winning 11 games was no easy feat based on the program's own history. After a 2004 Class 7A runner-up finish, the 2005 Trojans won 11 games and the Fox Valley Conference but they didn't make it past a quarterfinal against rival Crystal Lake South.
A year after Cary-Grove won the 2009 Class 6A championship against Providence - its only state title to date - the 2010 team followed up with a second-place finish in the FVC Valley Division before bowing out in the quarterfinals against eventual state champion Rockford Boylan.
The 2012 Trojans finished second in the state by 6 points against LaQuon Treadwell-led Crete-Monee. The 2013 Trojans? They placed second in the FVC Valley with a 6-3 regular-season record and later lost in the second round to Boylan by 7 points.
To be clear, there wasn't a huge drop-off in any of those seasons considering Cary-Grove reached at least the second round of the playoffs each year after a title-game appearance, a direct result of good coaching. But none of the previous four teams in the same position were as successful as the 2015 Trojans, who finished second in their division before beating Belleville West, Benet and Batavia to return to the semis.
Overachievers, these 2015 Trojans.
"We're all proud of how far we've come," Cary-Grove senior lineman Erik Norberg said. "Not a lot off people thought we'd even get past the second round of the playoffs. It's really a testament to our coaches and players here just how hard we work. I'm just proud."
Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg thanked his seniors, a list that includes Norberg, quarterback JP Sullivan, running back Kevin Hughes, defensive backs Jimmy Freskos, Ben Getka, Sean Cullen and John Cullen and offensive lineman Owen Henriques, among others.
"This group of seniors really continued the tradition of the program," Seaburg said. "They took our program almost to the next level. This is the first time since I've been around that we've had a season after a state championship game where we've advanced to the semis. I think that speaks volumes to our seniors."
Of course, Cary-Grove would not have made it back to a semifinal without its talented junior class. In the minds of many, the Trojans are a year ahead of schedule. Some close to the program say next year's team could be among the best Cary-Grove has ever fielded.
With most of the team back next year, led by Pennington, the program's all-time leading rusher, another deep playoff run is not only probable, a fifth trip to Champaign in 13 years is quite possible.
"I like what we've got coming back," Pennington said before jumping on the bus back to Cary. "I'm going to enjoy these last few moments with my senior teammates and we're going to get back to work soon."
Pennington won't be the only Trojan in the weight room come December.
"We have a lot of young guys that need to take this (loss to Glenbard West) and use it as motivation in the weight room in the off-season because it doesn't get any easier," Seaburg said.
It won't get any easier for Cary-Grove's 2016 opponents either.