Cary-Grove’s defense too much in win

Updated: October 28, 2011 9:31PM

Cary-Grove’s Max Kersten and the Trojan defense stifled Crystal Lake Central 17-7 Friday in the class 6A playoffs.

Led by Kersten, Kyle Norberg, Brock Bussenger, Owen Carey and Sam Babick, Cary-Grove limited the Tigers to just 144 yards of offense and 6 first downs while forcing three turnovers.

“We just followed our reads and our keys,” Kersten said. “The defensive line did a great job so the linebackers could flow to the ball.”

“They (the defense) played just great,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “They have been improving all year, especially the last three weeks.”

Most of the scoring was in the first half.

Cary-Grove (8-2) took the opening kickoff and marched 64 yards in 13 plays. Quinn Baker capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.

Crystal Lake Central (6-4) answered late in the first quarter. Matt McAlpine bust right up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown run with 2:30 left to tie it 7-7.

One play after a fumble recovery Kersten, Baker scored on a 17-yard run to make it 14-7 with 11:02 left in the first half.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” Kersten said. “I chomped down on it and came up with it.”

The Trojans, who ran 60 plays to Crystal Lake South’s 36, added a 30-yard field goal by Josh Buckingham with 3:07 left in the third quarter to give themselves some breathing room.

“They had at least nine guys in the box,” said Baker, who rushed for 84 yards on 24 carries. “But our offensive line did a good job getting a push when we needed it.”

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