Football notes
Homecoming festivities at Jacobs High School will go on as scheduled this Friday night whether a football game is played or not.
The Jacobs football team is scheduled to host Huntley for its homecoming game on Friday at 7:45 p.m. However, Huntley teachers went on strike Monday, a work stoppage that could force the cancellation of Friday's game if a settlement is not reached by Thursday night.
Negotiations between the Huntley Unit District 158 Board of Education and the Huntley Education Association continued into the evening Monday. If the strike ends by Thursday night and 51 percent of District 158 students attend classes Friday, the football game can be played as scheduled, according to IHSA rules.
However, Jacobs is working on a contingency plan since hundreds of alumni are expected to return to Algonquin for Friday's festivities. They will see a game, but it might not be a football game.
Jacobs athletic director Tom Ross said Monday he has been in contact with Woodstock about switching a scheduled Thursday soccer game at Woodstock to Friday night at Jacobs. The Golden Eagles soccer team would, in turn, play its scheduled Oct. 7 home contest at Woodstock.
Whether football or soccer is played on the field, the Jacobs homecoming show will go on.
"Woodstock athletic director Glen Wilson has been very receptive to it," Ross said. "You hate to see it come down to this. Our (football players) have been busy preparing, and Huntley's kids have been busy preparing and they're off to a 3-0 start and just beat McHenry, so they want to play. This is just tough."
The Jacobs football team stands 1-2 after playing three very close games and is trying to remain focused despite the distraction.
"We're preparing and practicing like we're going to be playing," Jacobs coach Dean Schlueter said. "That's the attitude we're going to take."
Schlueter feels for what Huntley's program is experiencing. He was the head coach at Rockford East High School, his alma mater, in 1983, when a strike forced the E-Rabs to forfeit their first two games.
"It's too bad that they have to go through that," Schlueter said. "Those situations are a no-win for everybody. Hopefully, they'll settle quickly and get back to business and everybody will be back on schedule."
Hot Chargers: Dundee-Crown is above .500 three games into a season for the first time since 2002 following back-to-back wins against Streamwood and Grayslake North.
It's the first 2-game winning streak for the Chargers since they beat Grayslake 21-14 in the 2004 season finale and Huntley 39-3 to open the 2005 campaign.
Dundee-Crown (2-1) will face Grayslake Central (0-3) at the D-C Bowl on Friday at 7:45 p.m.
"I think we're getting more confidence," D-C coach Mike Davis said. "If we can win this game Friday night, I think we have a legitimate shot at getting 5 wins."
Dundee-Crown has not qualified for the playoffs since 1994.
Oh-fer: Five area teams have put themselves in holes they'll have to dig out of if they harbor postseason aspirations. Burlington Central, Hampshire, Elgin, Streamwood and South Elgin each fell to 0-3 with losses on Friday night and need 5 wins in the next 7 games to qualify for the postseason.
At least one of those teams is guaranteed a victory this week: Elgin faces South Elgin at Memorial Field on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Best trade never made: Huntley senior Jordan Neukirch seriously considered transferring to Marian Central Catholic in the off-season, but decided to remain a Red Raider instead.
It's a decision that has worked out well for both player and team. Huntley is off to its first 3-0 start since 2001 and Neukirch has rushed for 496 yards and 7 touchdowns.
"I don't think I could have asked for anything better right now," said Neukirch, who committed to Illinois State in August. "I'm definitely glad to be back and playing with the guys. In the end I made the right decision."