Football: Scouting the Class 7A championship game
Class 7A state championship
Cary-Grove (13-0) vs. Providence (12-1)When/where: Saturday at 4 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, Champaign
Television: Comcast SportsNet Chicago
How they got here: Cary-Grove defeated Niles North 52-14, St. Charles North 35-14, Geneva 44-26 and Libertyville 41-7; Providence defeated Quincy 45-8, St. Rita 34-3, Wheaton Warrenville South 23-6 and Mt. Carmel 42-21.
Last meeting: Cary-Grove defeated Providence 34-17 to win the 2009 Class 6A state title
State championship game history: Cary-Grove is 1-2 in state championship games. The Trojans won the Class 6A title in 2009. They finished runner-up in Class 7A in 2004 and Class 6A in 2012; Providence is 9-3 in state championship games. The Celtics won nine state titles between 1984 and 2004. They finished state runner-up three times, most recently in 2009.
Outlook: The top seeds on either side of the Class 7A bracket clash in a meeting of antithetical powerhouses. Ranked 1-2 in 7A most of the season by the Associated Press, the Trojans and Celtics approach football from opposite ends of the offensive spectrum. The Providence spread offense aims to put its top athletes in position to win individual matchups, whereas the Cary-Grove triple option gains yardage methodically until defensive breakdowns lead to big plays.
The Celtics have gained 3,287 of their 4,901 total yards through the air (67 percent), led by 5-foot-10 quarterback Justin Hunniford. The senior has completed 228 of 333 passes (68.7 percent) for 3,119 yards and 40 touchdowns. His top receivers are 6-foot-4, Notre Dame recruit Miles Boykin (62 rec., 987 yards, 19 TD), 6-5 Iowa-bound tight end Nick Vejvoda (39 rec., 583 yards, 8 TD) and 6-1 junior Mike Markasovic (38 rec., 544 yards, 2 TD). Sophomore running back Richie Warfield (138 carries, 709 yards, 9 TD) runs behind a line that averages 6-3, 266 pounds, led by senior left tackle Nick Barker (6-3, 315). "Explosive," is how Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg described the Providence offense. "They have big-play potential at any time. The quarterback is extremely accurate. He's a great leader. I'm very impressed with how he carries himself. He's obviously the leader of their team. They really mix it up as far as who they are throwing to. It's not like Boykin is the only guy catching the ball. The guy that gets overlooked is (Vejvoda). He's another guy who causes matchup problems and is a real good receiver." Cary-Grove's defense is led by 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior lineman Michael Gomez (30.5 tackles, 5 sacks, 45. TFL) and senior safeties Matt Sutherland (57.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 int..) and Larkin Hanselmann (43 tackles, 5 int.). The Trojan defense enters this game with 24 interceptions. A key to the game will be if Cary-Grove's defense can rush and confuse the hard-to-rattle Hunniford, who has thrown only 3 interceptions.
Cary-Grove's offense is keyed by arguably the best line in the state: four-year starter Gomez, Notre Dame-committed senior tackle Trevor Ruhland (6-4, 280), senior center Scotty Topole (6-5, 240) and juniors Peter Bardgett (6-0, 235) and Owen Henriques (6-0, 190). "I'm very impressed. That's one of the best offensive lines I've seen in a long time," Providence coach Mark Coglianese said. "They're physical and, obviously, very well coached. They run everything so well. It's going to be quite a challenge to even slow them down a bit. We have to get off blocks. I think that's Cary-Grove's strength, the way they stay on blocks. We have to control our gaps, stick with our option responsibilities, stay low and get off blocks." The Cary-Grove rushing game averages 7.4 yards per carry, led by sophomore Tyler Pennington. The fullback has rushed for 1,653 yards and 33 touchdowns in 235 attempts (7.0 avg.). Quarterback Jason Gregoire has thrown for 720 yards and 9 touchdowns and rushed for 715 yards and 10 scores. The Providence defense is led by 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive end Luis Vasquez, an undersized but relentless pass rusher Seaburg compares to Emerson Kersten, who started at end for the Trojans in the 2012 title game. Active linebackers Jimmy Sharkey (5-11, 205) and Brendan O'Hara (6-2, 225) help the Celtics limit opposing rushers to 2.8 yards per carry. O'Hara is the second cousin of Cary-Grove's Hanselmann.
Providence played 7 playoff teams in the regular season and defeated 6 of them. Cary-Grove beat the 3 playoff teams it faced during the regular campaign. "I think it's an advantage for us that we've played good competition every week," said Coglianese, whose team tied Brother Rice for the Chicago Catholic League Blue title. "Because of that you also get a little more banged up because you have to play all four quarters. That's good for experience, bad because we've had some injuries. Their side only played a half in a lot of games. What's better, to be more rested or battle tested? We'll find out."
Winning the state championship has been Cary-Grove's singular goal since the 2013 season concluded. To bring home the program's second title the Trojans must defeat Class 7A's other top seed.
"I think it's exciting for both teams," Seaburg said of the marquee matchup. "I think we're going to see who the best team certainly in 7A is and perhaps the state of Illinois. What more could you ask for? For our kids, we feel like we're the best team in the state of Illinois. But if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Certainly, Providence appears to be all that. They're a good football team. We're real excited."
Worth mentioning: One of Providence's assistant coaches is former St. Edward head coach John Pergi. In his coaching infancy, Pergi led the Green Wave to their first state playoff berth in 1983.