O-line fits C-G scheme like dream
Cary-Grove football coach Bruce Kay wasn’t overly concerned last offseason when five of the Trojans’ starters on the offensive line (including the tight end) graduated.
Kay knew what C-G had coming back to insert around center Hayden Baker, the lone returning starter, and thought the line would again be good. He was right.
The Trojans average an area-best 45.6 points a game and are putting up 381.4 yards a game, second among area teams to Richmond-Burton’s 387.2. C-G (10-0) is the
No. 1 seed in the northern bracket of Class 6A and takes on Highland Park (7-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lake Forest High School.
“The group we have has been playing together since Junior Trojans (travel program),” Baker said. “We know each other well and work real well together.”
Baker said the biggest difference with this line and last year’s is size. The Trojans had three starters at 200 pounds or less, while this year’s group of Baker, guards Ben Luedtke and Sean Considine and tackles Matt Liebforth and Rich Kersten all weigh at least 220 pounds. Tight end Cole Connington is 205.
“What they possess, in our mind, is perfect size,” Kay said. “They’re big, but they move and play very fast. They’re a bright group of guys who understand concepts and see how everything fits.”
Running backs Alex Hembrey (817 yards, 12 touchdowns) and fullback Eric Chandler (812, 16) both average more than 8 yards a carry. Quarterback Tyler Krebs has run for 448 yards. An example of how potent the C-G offense is came in Week 8 when the Trojans beat Crystal Lake South, 28-16. South’s defense has pitched five shutouts and allowed only 27 points in its other nine games.
“I felt we’d have a good line through the offseason,” said Lieb-forth, who also rotates at defensive end with Kersten. “We pick each other up and help each other out a lot.”
The Trojans sprung Chandler loose for five touchdowns in their 57-21 win against St. Viator in the playoff opener.
“We love when our backs are up there making big gains,” Liebforth said. “That means a big dinner for us, too.”
C-G started a tradition a few years ago that the back who gets 100 yards behind the line treats the line to a dinner the next Tuesday. Chandler was happy to pay up this week.
Rose records: McHenry senior quarterback Thomas Rose had the most prolific passing season in Warriors history this season.
Rose broke Dennis Jackson’s 1996 single-game record (289) against Dundee-Crown (320), then broke that record the next week against C-G (325).
Rose also broke Brian Hisel’s season record for passing yards (2,034 in 1998) with 2,123 for the season. Rose also did that in nine games since the Warriors (4-5) came up one victory short of the playoffs.
Alden-Hebron fundraiser: The Alden-Hebron girls basketball team is selling tickets for its annual fundraiser, a buffet chicken dinner at Crandall’s Restaurant in Hebron.
The cost for each ticket is $12, which includes coffee, tea or soda. The event will be from 4 to 8 p.m Monday. Tickets can be purchased from any team member or from the school office at 815-621-5938.
• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.
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