It comes down to Woodstock’s size against Cary-Grove’s speed when the two unbeatens clash Friday night in Cary with the winner clinching the Fox Valley Conference title.
Fifteenth-ranked Woodstock (7-0) hopes to outmuscle Cary-Grove with two-way linemen Brent Lahman (6 feet 4 inches, 250 pounds), Mike Brasile (6-3, 245) and Bob Moore (6-2, 225).
Cary-Grove (7-0) plans on running away from Woodstock’s strength with an option attack featuring Kevin Kaplan (1,003 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Rashad McDade. Kaplan is averaging a whopping 16 yards per carry, McDade 6.1 and fullback Larry Pandocchi 6.6
“Nobody has been able to stop their running game yet,” Woodstock coach Ed Brucker said. “They have really run up the points and yardage on teams.
“Cary-Grove did it against McHenry, and McHenry is faster than we are. Kaplan had a 93-yard touchdown run against them. Once he gets outside, it’s over. We had a hard time containing McHenry’s Pete Rasmussen, and Kaplan is faster than him.”
McDade can cover 40 yards in 4.55 seconds; Kaplan dies it in 4.6. That means Woodstock cornerbacks Rodney Cobb and Dave Davis had better play containment like never before.
Cary-Grove likes to complement its outside speed by pounding the middle with Pandocchi and quarterback Tony Parrillo, who runs and blocks like a second fullback at 6-2, 195.
“Woodstock is so big and physical, their front five could control the line and slow down our running game,” said Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay. “Parrillo has thrown four touchdowns passes, but he isn’t the kind of quarterback who throws 25 passes a game.
“When we’re on defense, we cannot allow their quarterback (Adam Vetere) time to set his feet and throw. He does such a good job distributing the ball.”
Opposing defenses have tried stacking the line and calling run blitzes against Cary-Grove’s rushing attack. The problem is, if Kaplan penetrates that initial surge, he has a clear path to the end zone.
Woodstock has made significant strides in each of Brucker’s four years. The Blue Streaks were 0-9 before Brucker took over and 3-6 in his first season. They improved to 5-4 the following year and were 10-2 last year.
The Streaks boast a more balanced offense with Vetere passing for 1,250 yards and 17 TDs, while primary running back Craig Kastning has compiled more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving and scored 15 touchdowns. Another favorite target for Vetere is flanker Cobb.
Comparative scores indicate this showdown should be close. Woodstock has beaten McHenry, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Jacobs, Grayslake and Prairie Ridge by a total of 142 points. Cary-Grove has beaten the same six teams by a total of 141.
Woodstock edged Cary-Grove 21-14 last year, but two years ago Cary-Grove eliminated the Blue Streaks from playoff consideration. In 1994, Woodstock edged Cary-Grove in overtime.
Brucker realizes Woodstock can ill afford to let the Trojans control the football. The Blue Streaks have eight players going both ways and have been extended into the fourth quarter only against McHenry and Crystal Lake Central.
This is Cary-Grove’s best team since the 1987 ballclub that started 8-0 and advanced to the state playoff quarterfinals. Most of the time since then, the Fox Valley has been dominated by McHenry.
