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Defense delivering for Cary-Grove

The Cary-Grove defense is ahead of last year's pace.

The undefeated Trojans have limited Crystal Lake South, Crystal Lake Central and Hampshire to 7 points combined.

In 2018, a Cary-Grove team that went on to win the Class 6A state title allowed 29 points against the same opponents through Week 3.

Linebacker Jacob Buck leads coordinator Matt Furlong's defense with 13.5 tackles. Against Crystal Lake South in the season opener, the 6-foot, 180-pound senior registered a solo tackle, 10 assists, a tackle for loss and a sack.

Close behind are senior cornerback Gio Lanera (13 tackles) and junior safety Anthony LaMantia (11.5 tackles, 1.5 tfl). Senior linebacker Jake Johnson, the Trojans' 2018 defensive player of the year, has 9 tackles, 1.5 for a loss.

"Our defense is playing with a lot of confidence right now," Trojans coach Brad Seaburg said. "We did a nice job last week of recognizing tendencies and formations and executing. We're doing a really nice job of moving fast and getting to the football, which has been a trademark of our defense."

Back in the hunt: Huntley rebounded from a 14-7 Week 2 loss at Jacobs with last Friday's 28-24 victory over Prairie Ridge

The Red Raider defense held the a Prairie Ridge triple option offense that had scored 89 points in its first two games to 10 points, largely by shutting down the outside veer. However, the punt team gave up two touchdown returns.

"Take away the special teams and that's a 28-10 game," Huntley coach Matt Zimolzak said. "We've made wholesale changes on special teams. We will be better."

Huntley (2-1, 2-1) plays at Fox Valley Conference co-leader Cary-Grove (3-0, 3-0) Friday at 7 p.m.

Juggernaut to date: South Elgin has outscored its first three opponents by a cumulative score of 169-0.

The Storm has been outscored by only five 11-man teams statewide. Peoria has scored 206 points with Aurora Christian at 182 points - the Eagles have allowed only 7 - followed by Rochester, Nashville and the Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin coop all at 174 points. Milford has scored 178 points in 8-man football.

South Elgin is one of only three teams in the state to have recorded three straight shutouts to start the 2019 season. Marian Central and Fairfield also have yet to allow a single point.

Storm coach Dragan Teonic stated a universal truth regarding these numbers: "It's hard to lose if you don't give up any points."

Every little bit: Streamwood sophomore quarterback Andrew Phan likely saved the Sabres' 28-21 double-overtime win against Fenton - on special teams.

Fenton struck first in overtime. Streamwood answered on Phan's 1-yard run to pull within 21-20.

Staying in the game as the holder for senior kicker Angel Acosta, Phan corralled a long snap that skittered along the turf. Phan expertly propped up the football and Acosta delivered to send the game into a second overtime.

"When you win like this," Streamwood coach Don Guindon said afterward, "everything's got to work out, and it worked out tonight."

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