Special teams lift Huntley over Wauconda
While 28-24 doesn't sound like a defensive struggle, that's what Huntley's season-opening win against Wauconda was. Neither offense got much going, but Huntley's special teams were the difference on a soggy Huntley field.
Nick Davila scored twice on kickoff returns and two other special-teams plays set up short touchdown drives for the Huntley offense.
Brett Kleckner finished off both drives with touchdown runs, but Huntley generated just 56 yards of offense on the night.
"Coach [Derek] Morehart runs the kickoff return, and they did a real nice job today," said Huntley coach Steve Graves. "They just textbook set it up for him, and Davila did a fantastic job of taking it down there twice."
Davila's second return gave Huntley a 28-10 lead in the third quarter. Wauconda responded with 2 touchdowns. The Bulldogs had the ball at the Huntley 30-yard line with a chance to take the lead, but the Red Raiders recovered a fumble. Huntley was able to run out the clock thanks to an intentional safety by punter Thor Larkin as time ran out.
Wauconda quarterback Brian Kent engineered the comeback attempt, completing 6 of 11 passes in the second half, including an 86-yard touchdown strike to Brandon Dorsey.
"Give Huntley credit, they're an experienced team," said Wauconda coach David Mills. "You've got to play mistake-free to come in here and beat them. And we didn't."
Huntley built its big lead with its defense. The pash rush harassed Kent all night, particularly in the first half.
"Jay Keanrs did a real nice job for us," said Graves. "Daimon Rosslein and Matt Zeis. Those 3 linemen did a nice job of pressuring that quarterback."
Rosslein had 3 of the Red Raiders' 5 sacks of Kent.
Huntley got on the board when a bad snap on a punt attempt gave them the ball at Wauconda's 12-yard line. Kleckner later took it in from a yard out.
The Raiders' second score came after they stopped a fake punt attempt. Punter Brandon Prate tried to run on fourth and 1, but was stopped at the line of scrimmage. Kleckner then capped the 29-yard drive with an 18-yard run for a 14-0 lead.
Wauconda appeared to grab the momentum just before halftime after recovering a fumble. Kent threw a 44-yard touchdown to Dorsey (3 receptions, 144 yards) on the next play. But Huntley got the momentum right back when Davila returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a score and a 21-7 halftime lead.