Mahoney, Cary-Grove shut down Woodstock N.

Execution might be the best word for plenty of reasons to describe Cary-Grove's 42-7 Fox Valley Conference crossover win over Woodstock North at Al Bohrer Field in Cary Friday night.

Execution could also be a term to describe a Thunder team down 42-0, which trailed in the total yards game 387-80 at the half.

Or maybe execution could be best used for Cary-Grove's ability to run at its standard. And that's what the Trojans (2-2) did most of the night - execute well. Most of the Trojans' drives were skimpy, because it took anywhere from 2-5 plays to get it done.

"Great execution," Trojans running back Ryan Mahoney said. "Offensive line did their job, the backs were doing their jobs, the quarterback was making the right reads, everything was going right."

"I think we're starting to feel more comfortable with what we're doing and we're starting to find a rhythm and we're seeing things," Trojans coach Bruce Kay said. "And as you see things, you can play faster."

Maybe nothing was faster than the clock, which broke once Cary-Grove scored its 42nd point late in the first half. The big play thrived from C-G's second drive on.

Mahoney's first quarter scoring runs of 11 and 48 - the last which he grabbed out of the air as the ball was pitched left as he went right - was maybe most impressive. Mahoney cradled the ball, cut back left and was gone down the sideline. Mahoney finished with 99 yards rushing to lead Cary-Grove, but three other Trojans participated as well.

In the second quarter, quarterback Corey Laktas (50 yards rushing, 78 yards passing) added a 40-yard scamper. After recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Laktas hooked up with Andrew Sobeski for a 34-yard touchdown reception on the very next play from scrimmage. Sobeski and fullback Patrick O'Malley would then cash in deep runs, O'Malley (73 yards rushing) a 50-yard TD run and Sobeski (84 yards rushing) an 80-yard scoring run. The big play amounted 309 yards rushing at half.

"I didn't know we'd have runs like that this year," Kay said. It's really good to see. And we were able to jump on them and we kept it going throughout that first half."

"We've struggled the first two weeks," Laktas said. "We're starting to play like Trojans have in the past and I think it's going to be a great run the rest of the season."

With 422 total yards, 344 coming via the run, it's clear Cary-Grove's offense is up and running. The defense was frugal, allowing just 44 yards rushing, only 8 in the second half. Cary-Grove's shutout ended deep into the fourth when Thunder quarterback Brian Lofton (6-for-15, 92 yards, 1 INT) hooked up with receiver Tony Scott for a 34-yard score.

"We're almost there. A couple minor things we have to work on, but we've come together really good as team throughout the season and in the off season," Laktas said.