Tough 2-OT loss for Huntley

Turnovers, penalties, and giving up the big plays have plagued Huntley's football team all season long. There was nothing different when the Red Raiders played host to Woodstock in a Fox Valley Conference crossover game Friday night.

Huntley gave up the big plays and the turned the ball over 6 times, including a fumble in the second overtime to lose its first game of the season 27-24.

"Turnovers, penalties, and the deep pass are the three themes you can play over and over again in all of our games," Red Raiders' coach Steve Graves said. "The defense plays outstanding then gives up the deep ball. Offensively we move the ball great at times and then we turn the ball over. You just can't keep doing that."

Huntley created some big plays of its own to start the game. On just the second play from scrimmage of the game, running back Brett Kleckner broke free and scored on 79-yard run. Later in the half the Red Raiders (3-1) were able to add to their lead when quarterback Timothy Lycos scored on a 60-yard run. Huntley went to halftime up 16-3.

Blue Streaks (3-1) quarterback Logan Kunzie turned the game around in the second half when he connected with Scott Rausch for 48 yards to bring the game to within a touchdown. With just 9:41 to play in the game, Kunzie connected again with Rausch, this time from 78 yards out, tying the game at 16.

"I think our players really just really started to calm down a little bit," Woodstock coach Steve Beard said. "We were doing some good things in the first half, but we'd throw an interception or a fumble. Once we were able to get everyone calmed down, things just started working for us."

In the first overtime, both teams were able to match one another with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. The difference in the second overtime was the leg of Rausch. His 17-yard field goal and a fumble recovery by Kevin Hunt sealed the Blue Streak victory. Rausch also nailed a 39-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half.

"To come out of this with anything less than a victory for us is bitterly disappointing," Graves said. "We have to have a short memory and get after it now because everyone we play from here on out is tougher."