The Trojans had to mount a comeback last week after Jacobs scored an opening touchdown, but the Trojans’ early deficit this week was one with more significance. When you are playing Prairie Ridge to clinch a playoff spot and take sole ownership of first place in the Fox Valley Conference, things get amplified and then some.
Being down by nine points at half produced far more drama for Cary-Grove. However, an early deficit on the road – against a heated rival – to go into Homecoming undefeated and to obtain the top spot in the conference – didn’t mean that aforementioned drama would stay. Even though things were looking to be that way.
On their first offensive possession, the Wolves cut down more than 7:15 of the first quarter clock and took an early 6-0 lead with 51.7 left in the first, following a Prairie Ridge defensive stop on the Trojans’ first drive. After a field-altering run by senior running back Holden Boone to begin the second quarter, the ball resting at the PR 24, the Wolves made the Trojans settle for three and CG cut the 6-0 margin for the Wolves in half.
Prairie Ridge once again produced a long drive on their second possession, bleeding more than 10:30 of the second quarter clock. PR held a 12-3 advantage over Cary-Grove with 16.2 seconds until halftime, and the Wolves took that margin into the second half.
To add on to the Wolves’ benefits, they were set to receive the second half kickoff, getting the chance to extend their lead to double digits before the Trojans’ offense could take the field. This prospect was not fulfilled by PR – and very quickly the tide turned.
The Trojans forced a punt after stopping the Wolves three yards past midfield. CG had most of two quarters left to flip the momentum, and they began to do so.
“We had some things to clean up, and I just think we adjusted and we were warriors,” senior Ty Drayton said of the defense.
Two plays into CG’s ensuing possession, junior fullback Logan Abrams took a handoff and was all alone for a 77-yard touchdown run to cut the lead of PR down to two points, at 12-10.
The defense responded with that “warrior” mentality, as they stuffed Prairie Ridge on fourth and a yard at the CG 25, giving the Trojans troops on offense a chance to take their first lead of the night.
“We hit, and we were more physical,” Coach Seaburg said of the defense and their changes. “We were able to tackle the quarterback and keep him out of big plays and out of the endzone.”
The Trojans demonstrated their toughness with a first-down lunge by senior QB Peyton Seaburg on third and four, a decisive block on a fourth down to move the chains, and a Logan Abrams rushing touchdown coupled with a converted two-point play due to the extra effort of an arm lunge. Those combined efforts put CG out in front for the first time Friday night, and the score read 18-12 with 3:16 until the game concluded.
“We had two possessions in the second half, and we scored on both, so I was pretty happy with that,” Coach Seaburg said. “We had two possessions in the first half, and we scored a field goal on one and we had to punt.
“That’s how a game goes with Prairie Ridge: you get four possessions, you gotta take advantage of them.”
With the Trojans gaining their first margin of the night, they needed to once again halt PR’s offense to take home the fifth win of the season in as many weeks for Cary-Grove.
A sack by senior linebacker Charlie Ciske sandwiched between some miscues by PR’s offense culminated in a fourth and 19 at the Cary-Grove 40 yard line.
PR nearly converted from that long distance, but they were just a bit short. The Trojans finished off a huge comeback win over CG’s biggest rival, and they gained a fifth straight win to start the 2024 campaign.
“It’s just a great win, I love how our team played,” Ty Drayton said. “We played tough, and we really turned it up in the second half.
“We’ve lost to them (PR) the last two years, and so coming back with a win is nice,” Coach Seaburg said. “We’ll move on to next week and we’re 5-0 and in the playoffs, which is where we [want to] be.”
Looking to week six, Cary-Grove will battle Hampshire on Saturday at 1 p.m. CG’s Homecoming game reflects the chance for the Trojans to continue their strong, perseverant season and stack another win.