High school football: Cary-Grove's McQuade has become key defensive specialist

CARY – At the halfway mark of the regular season, Cary-Grove's Zach McQuade switched from a two-way threat to a defensive specialist.

Trojans coach Brad Seaburg needed an aggressive yet disciplined defensive back capable of shutting down Huntley's talented pass catchers. McQuade, who also plays some running back, passed with flying colors in a runaway win for C-G.

The personnel change stuck and, on Saturday, the 163-pound senior drew his toughest assignment of the year in the Trojans' Class 7A quarterfinal playoff against Geneva: 185-pound wide receiver Mike Landi, who, at 6-foot-6, stands almost a full foot taller than McQuade.

Landi's vertical advantage was on full display early, as he simply outjumped McQuade and fellow defensive back Matt Sutherland in the end zone for the Vikings' first touchdown of the game, cutting C-G's lead to 19-6 with 10:56 remaining in the first half.

But McQuade, who had already intercepted Northern Illinois University commit Daniel Santacaterina once in the first half, would come up with his biggest defensive stop of the season after the break.

With the Trojans up 32-19 and 10:40 to go in the game, McQuade broke up a potential touchdown in the endzone on a fourth-and-15 desperation toss intended for Landi, poking the ball out of the receiver's hands as both players hit the ground. A roughing the passer penalty, however, negated the play, giving the Vikings 1st-and-10 on C-G's 20-yard line.

On the very next play, McQuade wasn't fooled by Geneva's trickery and read a halfback pass, dropping back in coverage and grabbing his third interception of the game, this time against running back Justin Taormina, keeping C-G up by two scores.

"I just read the sweep, saw the running back slow down and knew the pass was coming my way," said McQuade, who also intercepted Santacaterina in the third quarter. "It's instincts, you just have to get your hands up and sometimes you come down with it."

McQuade's pick was one of five interceptions for the Trojans, who also recovered a fumble on defense. Senior George Hartke opened the game with an interception on Geneva's first drive, setting up one of three first-half touchdowns from Tyler Pennington, and later came up with his second interception in the fourth to seal a 44-26 win.

Hartke knew C-G had its hands full with Landi (5 catches, 85 yards) and Santacaterina, but trusted C-G's defensive schemes and preparation.

"We had to work on getting [Landi] on the way down and breaking up the pass, because we're never going to beat him on a jump ball," Hartke said. "I thought we played him as best as anyone could given the situation. We're capable, not matter our size or his."