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Cary-Grove closes out 9-0 regular season

There was not much imperfection to be found as Cary-Grove completed a perfect regular season and wrapped up the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division football title with a 47-7 victory Friday night at Crystal Lake South's Ken Bruhn Field.

"There really weren't any negatives on that end there," Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said of his team's execution as it finished the program's seventh regular season without a loss.

"We knew they had a lot to play for but I think we've got a lot to play for, too," said Cary-Grove senior center Scott Topole of ending CL South's playoff and conference title hopes. "It was just another game we had to win. We had to execute."

The Trojans (9-0, 5-0), the top-ranked Class 7A team by the Associated Press, scored on all seven of their full possessions, had 412 yards of total offense, forced 3 turnovers and started a running clock 3:12 after halftime with a 41-0 lead. The first of 3 first-half touchdown runs by sophomore fullback Tyler Pennington (12 carries, 62 yards) capped a 12-play, 97-yard drive behind Topole, Trevor Ruhland, Michael Gomez, Owen Henriques, P.J. Bardgett and tight end Erik Norberg.

Jason Gregoire hit on all 4 of his passes for 69 yards with a 29-yarder where Larkin Hanselmann made a great adjustment for Cary-Grove's first touchdown. Hanselmann also had an interception and got a piece of a CL South (4-5, 3-2) punt that went only 9 yards.

"They're really good," said CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann. "They've had good teams but they haven't always had size. They have massive kids (front five averages 240 pounds), the quarterback can throw a little bit and the fullback is a stud. They have everything you need.

"They're well-rounded and I have so much respect for them. I knew they wouldn't come in and take us lightly."

Gomez also recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown and Zach McQuade's interception stopped a CL South drive to the Cary-Grove 23 at the end of the first half.

"That last game is tough because for Crystal Lake South, if they lose, those seniors' careers are over," Seaburg said. "So they fought really hard and our kids responded well to that."

Matt Sutherland rushed for 86 yards on just 5 carries and sophomore Kyle Pressley (12 carries, 61 yards) ran for a 20-yard touchdown 1:12 into the second half. Junior quarterback J.P. Sullivan completed both of his passes for touchdowns of 21 yards to Sutherland and 11 yards to Pressley.

"Their kids play with so much confidence," Ahsmann said.

"We're feeling good after this win," Topole said. "We've got a new season coming up and we'll try to execute as good as we have so far."

CL South avoided the shutout with 5:21 left in the third on a 2-yard run by senior Kyle Bartusch (17 carries, 125 yards). Sophomore quarterback Luke Nolan left the game midway through the second quarter for what Ahsmann said may have been a concussion.

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