High school football: Cary-Grove's legacy will be as winners

CHAMPAIGN – This time, there was no long line of high fives waiting for a giddy Cary-Grove football team.

There was just one long solemn march to the south end of Memorial Stadium.

Tears streaked down the Trojans’ cheeks. Heads sank. Seniors Jason Gregoire and Willie Hartke wrapped their arms around one another as if to will themselves toward the stage to receive the second place trophy. Fans tried to console them.

“Great season, boys,” yelled one.

It was, and yet it ended like a season does for nearly every high school playoff team across Illinois, with a loss and with teenage boys crying. In the Class 7A championship game on a cool Saturday night, Cary-Grove fell to Providence, 31-28.

The loss marked the lone blemish for the Trojans (13-1) this season. It prevented them from securing what would have been the school’s second state title. It should hardly, though, spoil an otherwise banner run.

Asked afterward how history will view the 2014 Trojans, coach Brad Seaburg didn’t hesitate to offer a response.

“A very dominant group that played a great team in the state championship game and just came up a little short,” he said. “But was a source of pride for a lot of people in our community. Were great role models for our younger guys. It was a great, great season.”

He’s right.

Try this. Before Saturday, Providence had given up 38 points in four playoff games (14 of them coming in garbage time in the semifinals against Mt. Carmel). And coming out of the Blue Division of the Chicago Catholic League, the Celtics were, of course, battle tested, led by a smart quarterback in Justin Hunniford and an offense littered with Division I talent.

Still, Cary-Grove, using that little ole triple option offense, went out and put up 28 points, running the ball 62 times and amassing 343 yards of total offense, nearly equaling Providence’s total of 346.

On the big stage, under the lights, the Trojans went toe-to-toe with the suburban Catholic powerhouse, which won its fourth state title since the turn of the century.

They lined up as they had all season, pounded the ball and dared Providence to stop them. It nearly worked. They proved that.

“I feel like a lot of people think they know the answers of how to stop this,” senior left tackle Trevor Ruhland said of the offense. “Like, if you take away certain things, it’s not going to work. We always have counters off everything. And we probably ran the same play 60 times. I mean, it was just a matter of stopping it. Cary-Grove’s always going to be option. I don’t know if we’ll ever be a spread team like everyone is leaning to now.

“We’re downhill. We’re physical football. That’s just how we grew up playing.”

Maybe that physical, run-heavy style isn’t suited for winning state championships. Not enough balance, one could argue. After all, C-G has made four trips downstate since 2004, and has come away with just one state title. But maybe that’s an argument for another day.

Here’s what’s become plainly evident. As much as Saturday’s loss stings for the Trojans and their fans, the program has cemented itself as a modern day high school football powerhouse. It’s become too consistent to be denied of that claim.

Over the past three years, with Ruhland and senior left guard Michael Gomez on the offensive line, Cary-Grove went 33-6, won two Fox Valley Conference Valley Division titles and made two trips to the state title game.

This was a group of seniors that was about as good as the school has ever seen.

“They’d be the first ones I’d put in a foxhole with,” Seaburg said. “Because they’re solid kids. They battle. They’re tough. And what else can you ask for as a coach?”

The thing about Cary-Grove, is that it’s bound to produce another talented class, another class that battles, that works every bit as hard. The program is rolling, still.

Just maybe next time it’ll be rewarded. Consistency usually does.

• Northwest Herald sports reporter Joey Kaufman can be reached at jkaufman@shawmedia.com or on Twitter @JoeyRKaufman.