C-G fans revel in title win

Cary-Grove fans cheer during the final minutes of Saturday's Class 6A State Championship game against Providence Catholic at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Cary-Grove won, 34-17. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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CHAMPAIGN – Sue Mago thinks Cary-Grove can win state football titles every year, but that didn’t make the moment Saturday any less spectacular.

Cary-Grove won the program’s first-ever state title with a 34-17 win against Providence Catholic in the Class 6A state championship game at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium. Mago, along with hundreds of fans that had traveled to watch the Trojans make history, celebrated amid confetti.

“This is fantastic,” said Mago, whose son, Johnny, played for the Trojans’ state runner-up team in 2004.

Her son, Sam, a sophomore defensive lineman, played a few downs Saturday.

“I knew we could do this. As soon as we were down here, I knew we were going to win. Every year I see it happening.”

Trojans fans began lifting their hands above their heads as the seconds ticked off the clock during the final minute of play. They had endured plenty of drama in a game that saw six lead changes; it was time to celebrate.

Anna Kraft nearly was in tears watching her son, senior running back and defensive back John Kraft, nab a state title five years in the making.

“These boys have all been playing together for so long,” Anna Kraft said. “They were all on the Cary Junior Trojans program when they were younger and it’s been 10 years of hard work for these boys to get to where they are. They are well-deserving of this win.

“They give it their all. They are the most humble and respectful boys you’ll ever find.”