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Geneva's next challenge? Stopping Pennington, Cary-Grove

Count Geneva football coach Rob Wicinski among Cary-Grove fullback Tyler Pennington's growing number of admirers.

"I can't wait to see this kid," said Wicinski, who played collegiately at Northern Illinois. "He's got to be off the charts."

Wicinski and his Vikings (10-1), who finished the regular season ranked No. 8 in Class 7A, according to The Associated Press, get their chance to see Pennington and the top-ranked Trojans (11-0) up close when they invade Cary for a 7A quarterfinal on Saturday at 1 p.m. (gates open at 11:30 a.m.).

Of course, seeing Pennington and stopping him are two different things. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound sophomore has gained 1,373 of the Cary-Grove flexbone triple option offense's 3,905 rushing yards in 182 attempts (7.5-yard avg.). He also plays linebacker on defense.

Pennington's path is cleared by the powerful offensive line of Notre Dame-bound tackle Trevor Ruhland (6-4, 280), four-year starting guard Michael Gomez (6-0, 260), two-year starting center Scotty Topole (6-4 240) and juniors Owen Henriques (6-0 190) and PJ Bardgett (6-0, 235).

Directing the triple option is senior Jason Gregoire, a 6-4 all-area basketball player who has rushed for 557 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Trojans run the ball 88 percent of the time, but they are efficient when passing. Gregoire has completed 57 percent of his attempts (32 of 56) for 618 yards and 8 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions. His top receivers are seniors Larkin Hanselmann (9 receptions, 215 yards, 3 TD) and Matt Sutherland (7 rec., 125 yards, 2 TD).

While wary of the Cary-Grove passing game, it won't be the focal point of Geneva's defense.

"(Pennington) is going to be the defensive key for us," Wicinski said. "I wouldn't say they go as he goes, but nobody's stopped him."

The Vikings counter with a 4-3 defense led by a strong line that features 6-foot-3, 234-pound end Matt Loberg (9 sacks) and junior nose tackle Steve Kemp (6-0, 225), the team's leading tackler with 32 solo, 60 assisted. Senior middle linebacker Wyatt Shodeen (69 tackles) directs the unit. Senior safety Brock Perry has 4 interceptions, including the game-clincher in last week's 26-20 win over Hononegah.

"If you look at their defense, they don't have the size others might have at certain positions," Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said, "but they have very good athletes who get to the ball and play hard."

Offensively, the Vikings are balanced between the pass (2.331 yards) and run (2,127). NIU-bound senior quarterback Daniel Santacaterina is a 60.2-percent passer (148 of 246) who has thrown for 2,254 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has thrown 12 interceptions, including 5 in a 26-20 loss to rival Batavia. But as Seaburg points out, "even with those interceptions they still had a chance at the end of that game."

Senior Pace Temple (6-2, 190) is Geneva's leading receiver with 56 catches for 918 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior Mike Landi (6-6, 185) has 43 receptions for 647 yards.

Geneva junior running back Justin Taormina (5-10, 165) has rushed for 971 yards and 21 touchdowns in 181 attempts (5.4 avg.), helped by offensive tackles Ben Baker (6-7, 285) and Loudon Vollbrecht (6-6, 255), center Joey Wagner (5-11, 280), guards John Boenzi (6-0, 205) and T.K. Hood (6-2, 270), and reserve guard Sean McKenzie (6-0, 285).

Cary-Grove's 3-3-5 defense is predicated on speed as much as strength. Up front, Gomez (4.5 sacks), Ruhland (2 sacks) and Ray DiMatteo (4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks) provide the pressure that has led to 17 interceptions, including 5 by Hanselmann and 4 by Willie Hartke.

Both programs are riding a wave of success that began in 2004. Geneva has made the playoffs 10 times in the last 11 years and makes its fifth quarterfinal appearance during that span, its first since 2008.

The Trojans are in the playoffs for the 11th straight season. Saturday's quarterfinal appearance is their eighth since 2004.

"Our guys, when we got together in the off-season, fully expected to be in a quarterfinal," Seaburg said. "That was a goal this group of guys set out to do. That's where we're at and we're playing a very good team. What more can you ask for? We're happy to be in the position we're in."

Dave Oberhelman contributed to this report

  Geneva's Pace Temple returns a punt during the Vikings' Class 7A playoff win over Hononegah last weekend. Jeff Knox/jknox@dailyherald.com
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