One thing that is certain about Cary-Grove football is that you can never count them out. Twice in three weeks this season, the Trojans had to battle back from double-digit deficits against PR and Huntley, with both games taking place in hostile territory.
CG won those two games dramatically, helping Cary-Grove to an undefeated regular season. The Trojans showcased their fast-score ability seen seven times in the regular season – once again – in the first few rounds of postseason play, which helped CG advance easily. Unfortunately, CG ran into Geneva in the semis, which gave the Trojans a battle. A back-and-forth matchup ended in a close-knit loss for CG.
“Just a lot of fight, never quit,” Coach Seaburg said. “Always were right there – just came up a little bit short.”
The Vikings opened up the scoring quickly, taking a 7-0 lead with 8:11 left in quarter one. However, CG’s Holden Boone responded with a 52-yard run to pay dirt, which led to a 7-7 standstill after a quarter.
Geneva’s next drive ended in another touchdown, this time from 4th and 8 yards to the back of the end zone to Georgia WR commit Talyn Taylor. Throughout CG vs. Geneva, Taylor made it clear he wanted to redeem himself from a tough game against CG last postseason with a huge day at the office in the semis.
“They threw it well,” Coach Seaburg said. “Number one was a really good receiver.”
The Trojans offense, following Taylor’s score, couldn’t get the ball rolling a drive later. A fumbled snap on second down and sack on third down resulted in a fourth-and-long, and Cary-Grove’s defense kept reeling on the next Viking drive.
However, CG ended up holding Geneva’s offense only to five yards in the red zone (15-yard line) and on fourth and 11 the Vikings missed a field goal.
Once again, running back Holden Boone came up with a huge gallop for the Trojans, getting CG’s offense down to the Geneva 22 as Cary-Grove’s next drive gained some punch.
The Geneva defense stood tall a few moments later, as CG’s offense was stuffed at the goal-line. The Trojan defense countered a few plays into Geneva’s next drive, with an interception by Preston Walsh, the pass by the Vikings being a bit upstairs towards Taylor.
Holden Boone provided the CG offense another touchdown the next possession, as Boone made it 14-13 Geneva at the halftime break. The second half began with a Peyton Seaburg to Landon Barnett touchdown pass on fourth and four at the Vikings’ 37.
The Trojans would take their first lead of the afternoon on this, but a 33-yard pass by Geneva and a few decently-large plays would get the Vikings down to the Trojans’ 2-yard line – eventually notching another lead, this time at 21-20, with 4:05 left in the third quarter.
Geneva’s defense helped get their offense another possession, as on fourth and five they picked off Peyton Seaburg, and the fourth quarter began with the Vikings right by the CG goalline. 28-20 became the score with 11:21 to go. Geneva got an onside kick right after, eventually on the brink of putting the game more out-of-reach for the Trojans.
However, CG wasn’t done yet. The Trojans defense recovered a Geneva fumble on a botched snap/handoff.
“Did our best,” Coach Seaburg said of the defense for CG.
Peyton Seaburg then took the ball to pay dirt on a 44-yard rush on a drive of over 5 plays. Cary-Grove’s ensuing two-point try, unfortunately, was stopped at the one-yard line.
The Vikings eventually ran out the clock, and they got a win to advance to state. Geneva battled East St. Louis the next weekend for a title, with the Flyers soaring back to the top of the 6A world following a 48-28 win.
“Made some plays at times, and just came up a little bit short,” Coach Seaburg concluded in talking about the defense for Cary-Grove against the Vikings in the semifinal.
In a season of dramatics for the Trojans – with some flair to boot throughout this 2024 campaign – CG’s game against Geneva certainly didn’t disappoint, even with the end result going the opposite way. Coach Seaburg reflected on the squad the Trojans fielded this season, and the fun he had being able to lead his team to a successful year.
“Just a great group of guys this year, and it’s been a pleasure coaching.”
** Author’s Note:
Well, that will do it for my time writing about Cary-Grove Trojans football. It has been a blessing beyond thinking to be able to write the slew of articles I did over the course of four years, and also experience *two state wins* in three seasons! Both times were in-person – thank you Mr. Ludwig!!! The time I have spent on the sideline has been fun and meaningful, and I appreciate Mr. Devin Hester and all of our athletic faculty for allowing me to join the team and managers on the sideline week after week, as our Trojans battled to victory and kept working hard amid defeat.
Watching Trojans football up-close was something I loved every Friday night and the occasional Saturday afternoon, as I not only put on my reporter look, but kept my fan spirit at the forefront of my overall experience. I know that the next CG football writer will do amazing things, and whoever the writer for next season and beyond ends up being – just know I probably use my phone a *bit* too much – so if you reach out with football-writing advice, I will more than likely respond fairly quickly 🙂
I appreciate everyone who has given me the chance to write about CG football for the past four years, which has been the hallmark – and the legacy – of my high school career. My parents for driving, faculty for providing opportunity, fans for showing up every week ready to cheer on the team, Coach Seaburg for being a weekly interviewee, and the players and additional coaches for putting in the effort every FNL and Saturday to achieve greatness – Thank You!!!!!!
As I embark on my next journey beyond CG football, I want to wish the team the best next year and beyond as they equip the next generation of players into the program, leading to more success!! (And don’t worry, I will make sure to come back to watch a couple of home games next year and after 🙂
GOOOOOOOOOOO TROJANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! **