The two schools, less than eight miles apart, are both in District 155 and I imagine many of the parents and kids know each other. (And, for all I know, there may be some overlap in their feeder programs.)
Prairie Ridge is the newest of the four high schools in the district, having been founded in 1997 to address the overpopulation of the other three. The Wolves won the class 6A title last year and in 2011.
This year Prairie Ridge has been, of course, perfect. The Wolves are currently ranked No. 2 in the Sun-Times, No. 3 in the Tribune and No. 10 in MaxPreps. Here's their schedule so far (home team in CAPS):
PRAIRIE RIDGE 7, Cary-Grove (7-3) 6
Prairie Ridge 51, HUNTLEY 43 (8-2)
PRAIRIE RIDGE 56, Crystal Lake Central (5-5) 13
Prairie Ridge 56, CRYSTAL LAKE SOUTH (3-6) 14
PRAIRIE RIDGE 63, Bartlett (2-7) 7
Prairie Ridge 42, McHENRY (4-5) 14
Prairie Ridge 55, HAMPSHIRE (1-8) 14
PRAIRIE RIDGE 30, Jacobs (6-4) 16
PRAIRIE RIDGE 55, Dundee-Crown (1-8) 14
PRAIRIE RIDGE 61, Crystal Lake Central (5-5) 24
What a juggernaut! After that first game against Cary-Grove, the Wolves outscored their next nine opponents, 469-159, or on average, 52-18. Wow. And, including Cary-Grove, PR has defeated five playoff teams.
Cary-Grove, for its part, was founded in 1961. According to Wikipedia, the school's colors were originally purple and white and the tune for its song was borrowed from Northwestern University. In 1978, however, "while the school colors remained purple and white, the sports, cheerleader and band uniforms became navy and white. The school song remained the Northwestern University school song." But during the 1980s, "the change to navy blue and white became official." Was the principal at that time a Penn State alumnus? I wonder.
Also from Wikipedia (my emphasis):
Every year before school ends, all students who have not missed more than 12 days of school and have not received any discipline referrals are invited outside to a grill-out style party for two class periods. The event is accompanied by music performed by the school's jazz combo. All eligible students are given hot dogs grilled by the deans and parents as a form of reward for maintaining a good disciplinary and attendance record throughout the school year.
How many kids is that, do you suppose? And why didn't my high school have something like that? I would have had a much better record!
As for the football team, the Nittany Lions Trojans won the 6A title in 2009 and were runners-up in 2004, 2012 and 2014.
This year, though, Cary-Grove has been inconsistent. The Trojans outscored their opponents, 350-201, but have split with the six playoff teams they've faced. C-G is unranked in the Trib and Sun-Times and No. 46 in MaxPreps.
PRAIRIE RIDGE (10-0) 7, Cary-Grove 6
CARY-GROVE 29, McHenry (4-5) 7
Cary-Grove 57, HAMPSHIRE (1-8) 14
CARY-GROVE 52, Jacobs (6-4) 26
HUNTLEY (8-2) 41, Cary-Grove 32
CARY-GROVE 49, Dundee-Crown (1-8) 22
CARY-GROVE 41, Crystal Lake South (3-6) 14
SOUTH ELGIN (8-2) 21, Cary-Grove 6
Cary-Grove 36, CRYSTAL LAKE CENTRAL (5-5) 35
Cary-Grove 42, ST. IGNATIUS (7-3) 14
Of their seven common opponents -- McHenry, Hampshire, Jacobs, Huntley, Dundee-Crown, Crystal Lake South and Crystal Lake Central -- Prairie Ridge won by a greater margin than Cary-Grove in all but two. Needless to say, though, these are both really good programs.
To give you even more perspective, here's their record against each other going all the way back to 2004.
2016: Prairie Ridge 26, CARY-GROVE 14
2015: CARY-GROVE 21, Prairie Ridge 14
2014: N/A
2013: Cary-Grove 6, PRAIRIE RIDGE 0
2012: CARY-GROVE 35, Prairie Ridge 14
2011: Cary-Grove 22, PRAIRIE RIDGE 21
2010: N/A
2009: CARY-GROVE 40, Prairie Ridge 7
2008: N/A
2007: PRAIRIE RIDGE 16, Cary-Grove 14
2006: CARY-GROVE 48, Prairie Ridge 6
2005: Cary-Grove 42, PRAIRIE RIDGE 7
Cary-Grove 28, PRAIRIE RIDGE 0 (playoff)
2004: CARY-GROVE 42, Prairie Ridge 14
The Trojans have prevailed in nine of the last eleven meetings. Is that helpful? Who knows? I like it.
Look, there's no way to sugarcoat this: Prairie Ridge is the heavy favorite Saturday. But this contest will be at Cary-Grove, could take place in the rain, and stranger things have happened in this crazy world. Just two weeks ago for example, the other No. 1 seed in 6A, Crete-Monee, was upset by No. 16 Hinsdale South, 28-20. So take a chance, drive up to Cary and check out this tilt -- it could be a good one!
If I decide to brave the weather and the distance -- Cary-Grove is almost 50 miles from my house! -- you can follow me on Twitter @BoringOldWhtGuy.
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