Gators defense stuffs Trojans' run

Mike Frericks celebrates Saturday after Crystal Lake South defeated Cary-Grove to advance to the Class 7A semifinals against Geneva.
(Brian Valentin/Staff Photographer)

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Ryan Kuhn had nothing left for the mosh pit.

Moments earlier, Crystal Lake South's 6-foot, 255-pound defensive tackle continued his afternoon-long terrorizing of rival Cary-Grove by frantically chasing down a lightning-quick quarterback with the season on the line.

On the Trojans' final chance in overtime, a determined Kuhn hurried C-G's elusive QB Tyler Krebs into a rushed throw and incomplete pass on fourth down to send the home crowd pouring out onto the field.

Kuhn was too gassed to join in the celebration following CLS's 14-7 upset in the Class 7A quarterfinals at the Swamp.

"There are a lot emotions going on right now," said Kuhn, who also came up with two fumble recoveries. "I'm dead tired from screaming down there at the goal line. It was four plays for our season and I was just trying my butt off to make the play."

A week after shutting out unbeaten Rockford Boylan, South stymied the Trojans' vaunted triple option attack. The streaking Gators (10-2) defeated C-G (11-1) for the first time since the 2005 Class 6A state quarterfinals and reached the semifinal round for the third time in school history (1986, 2005).

They'll try to knock out a third straight unbeaten club when they travel to Geneva (12-0) in the semis at 7 p.m. Friday.

Behind tremendous efforts from Kuhn, Max Bush, Sam McCole, Ryan Forrestal and Mike Frericks, South's defense held Trojans' leading rusher Eric Chandler to 36 yards on 19 carries and dangerous running back Alex Hembrey to 42 yards on nine carries in an impressive, hard-hitting performance.

"It was their overall effort, how fast they flew to the football and they made sure that their fullback didn't get loose," CLS coach Jim Stuglis said. "That was the big thing ... if we could keep their fullback in check, their offense wasn't going to be able to work and it didn't today. I'm very proud of they way they played defensively."

In overtime, the 5-foot-8 Forrestal found himself matched up against C-G's 6-3 standout receiver Chad McCarron, who scored the Trojans' lone touchdown.

Despite the huge height disadvantage, the senior defensive back held his own as C-G was unable to connect on three shots in his direction.

"I know I'm short, but I just did what I had to do," Forrestal said. "We knew they were going to come back to (McCarron) because they had thrown a touchdown to him earlier. I know I can't jump with him, so I just had to wait until he came down and shoot the ball out."

CLS running back Colin Masterson managed 86 yards on 19 carries against C-G's stingy defense and gave the hosts the lead in the first half on an 8-yard sprint.

In overtime, South fullback Derek Mortensen (20 carries, 51 yards, TD) pounded in the game-winning score on 4th-and-goal from the 1.