How C-G got to state

Cary-Grove's Tyler Krebs looks to make a pass during the first half of Friday's game in Huntley. Cary-Grove won, 23-0. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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A game-by-game look at Cary-Grove’s football season leading up to today’s IHSA Class 6A state championship game against Providence Catholic:

Week 1: Cary-Grove 40, Crystal Lake Central 0

The Trojans’ defense and special teams forced a couple of early turnovers, and the offense capitalized on them. Quarterback Tyler Krebs had 20 carries for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and running back Alex Hembrey (10 carries, 107 yards) also had two touchdowns. The Trojans unveiled a new no-huddle offense and cruised to a win against Central, the eventual Fox Valley Conference Fox Division co-champion.

Week 2: Cary-Grove 47, Marian Central 0

The Trojans showed that they could throw the football, too, against Marian Central, with Krebs hitting wideout Chad McCarron on a 21-yard touchdown pass for C-G’s first score. The Trojans scored touchdowns on their first five drives behind a dominant offensive line. The defense scored for the second week when Danny Scott recovered a fumbled snap in the end zone, and C-G rolled again.

Week 3: Cary-Grove 60, Woodstock 6

C-G allowed its first touchdown of the season in Week 3 against the Blue Streaks, who would go on to share the FVC Fox title with Crystal Lake Central. The passing game continued to emerge, with Krebs throwing for 231 yards and five touchdowns. Despite the dominating performance, coach Bruce Kay and the team vowed to improve on the Trojans’ 19 penalties.

Week 4: Cary-Grove 56, Woodstock North 0

Woodstock North was in its first varsity season and faced the Trojans without any seniors on its roster. The result was predictable. With the score 48-0 at halftime, reserves got a lot of playing time in a fourth consecutive C-G romp. One of them was junior running back Luke Cook, who had a 25-yard touchdown run that made it 56-0 in the third quarter.

Week 5: Cary-Grove 57, Jacobs 0

The Trojans had moved up to No. 3 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll when they dismantled Jacobs in a Saturday afternoon game at Al Bohrer Field. C-G allowed 6 yards of offense and recovered four fumbles en route to its fourth shutout in five weeks. The score was 49-0 by halftime, and the Trojans had outgained Jacobs, 316 to minus-27.

Week 6: Cary-Grove 23, Huntley 0

On a rainy night, the Red Raiders offered the Trojans – now No. 1 in the Class 6A poll – their toughest test of the season to date. C-G didn’t score until Chandler got into the end zone on a 5-yard run with a minute left in the first half. The defense continued to dominate, allowing 78 total yards and scoring when defensive lineman Rich Kersten sacked quarterback Brandon Luczak in the end zone on Huntley’s first play of the second half.

Week 7: Cary-Grove 31, McHenry 28

After the Trojans beat their opponents thus far by a combined score of 283-6, some wondered how the team would perform in a close game. Week 7 provided the answer. With the Trojans trailing, 28-24, Krebs found Hembrey for a 10-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-5 with 19 seconds to go. Hembrey later said he lost the pass in the lights at Al Bohrer Field but was able to make the game-winning catch.

Week 8: Cary-Grove 28, Crystal Lake South 16

The Trojans’ defense intercepted South quarterback Drew Ormseth three times, and C-G dominated the line of scrimmage on offense and defense as the Trojans clinched a share of the FVC Valley title. The Gators had a chance at a game-winning drive, down 21-16 with 3:30 left, but defensive back Josh Nelson broke up what looked like a sure completion on fourth down. Chandler scored on a 16-yard run two plays later to ice the game.

Week 9: Cary-Grove 57, Dundee-Crown 12

Three offensive plays led to three touchdowns for Chandler and the Trojans. Chandler had four first-quarter touchdowns and averaged 26 yards a carry (6 for 156). Steve Hapanovich added two touchdowns for the Trojans, who built a 41-0 first-quarter lead. Running back Alex Schuh added two more TDs as C-G completed its second consecutive undefeated regular season and its sixth consecutive division or conference title.

Playoffs

Round 1: Cary-Grove 57, St. Viator 21

A 52-yard run by Chandler on C-G’s first play from scrimmage set the tone, and Chandler scored the first of his five touchdowns four plays later. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Matt Leibforth blocked a Lions punt on St. Viator’s first drive, and linebacker Nick Underwood returned it to the 1-yard line, setting up another score. Although the Lions came as close as 14-7, they couldn’t keep pace.

Round 2: Cary-Grove 48, Highland Park 28

The Trojans’ first game of the season on artificial turf gave the speedy Hembrey a chance to shine. He gained 196 yards and scored three touchdowns, leading the way as C-G picked up 405 yards on the ground. The Giants had some success with their passing game, with quarterback Walter Broder throwing for 259 yards and three touchdowns. But interceptions by C-G linbacker Stuart Gaulke and Nelson helped seal the win.

Quarterfinals: Cary-Grove 42, Chicago
De La Salle 0

On the same day the C-G girls volleyball team won the school’s first state championship, the football team was doing its best to keep up by posting a dominating quarterfinal victory. The defense got its first shutout in five weeks, holding De La Salle’s marquee player, receiver D.J. Bland, to two catches for 21 yards. C-G also gained 459 yards on offense, 429 of them on the ground. It was the first quarterfinal win for the Trojans since 2004.

Semifinals: Cary-Grove 40, Prairie Ridge 7

A familiar pattern played out at Al Bohrer Field as C-G earned a spot in the Class 6A state championship game. McCarron intercepted a pass from Prairie Ridge quarterback Jon Williams on the third play of the game and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0. Five minutes later, Chandler ran 21 yards for a score on fourth-and-inches. It was 40-0 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter. After the win, C-G’s players celebrated on the field with their fans.

– Eric Olson

eolson@nwherald.com