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Eventually, Cary-Grove takes over at Grayslake N.

It was quite evident who was likely to win this game at the start, as Grayslake North standout quarterback Merrick Gentile did not answer the opening bell.

Still, Grayslake North coach Steve Wood couldn't have been more proud of his defense at halftime on a rainy Friday night in Grayslake.

For in town was state-ranked Cary-Grove. The unbeaten Trojans moved to 3-0 with a 42-7 win as Gentile rested a weary shoulder, but for much of the game, that outcome wasn't so clear.

"He (Gentile) wanted to play,'' said North coach Steve Wood. "But we have a lot of the season ahead of us."

So who volunteered to play quarterback in Gentile's absence? Try speedy junior, Jake Wright. And yes, even star running back, Titus Booker.

In fact, Booker was credited with throwing the team's lone touchdown pass in the opening quarter. His 52-yard TD pass to went to Andrew Martineau and tied it 7-7 heading to the second quarter.

"Titus was our backup last year,'' Wood said. "He does a nice job."

Of course the victor of the game had to feel good after this impressive win.

After all, the Trojans (3-0) had two 100-yard rushers. Fullback Tyler Pennington (25 carries, 141 yards) and running back Zach McQuade (15-105) helped wear down the North defense.

McQuade pointed to his team's vaunted offensive line and it's Division I-bound players, Trevor Ruhland (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and Michael Gomez (6-0, 260). McQuade also noted his team isn't quite ready to claim a state title.

"We are not sure just yet,'' McQuade said.

Although this game had an earlier start (7:15 p.m), the first quarter dragged along as penalty flags flew heavily on both sides. Pennington still managed to score the game's first TD for the first Trojans' lead. Three minutes later, Booker connected on his team's lone score.

Beginning in the second quarter, the Trojans began to take over. Cary-Grove ran 25 plays in the quarter. The Knights managed only three plays and one of those was an interception by Cary's Willie Hartke.

The weather conditions were far from excellent. In fact, it rained the entire night.

"I would rather have it 70 degrees,'' said Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg.

North's defense has had some difficulty stopping other team's offenses in the first few games. So Wood was happy to see his team step up in the final seconds of the first half.

"They kept on running Rocket 21 and we knew it was coming,'' Wood said. "I'm so proud that it took them four downs inside the 5-yard line."

With their top passer out of the game, the North offense surrendered 3 interceptions. That clearly helped the ball-control offense of Cary. Senior Matt Sutherland scored 2 touchdowns in the second half for Cary-Grove and Kyle Pressley, a sophomore, scored the game's final touchdown.

The schedule doesn't lighten up for the Knights next week, as Normal West makes the trek to North next Friday.

"We have a lot of kids banged up,'' Wood said. "Normal West is always 8-1 or 9-0."

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