Big plays come up golden for Red Raiders in 2nd win

HUNTLEY – It was a night of gold at Huntley High School’s “Gold Out Games.”

For the second straight week, Huntley’s turnovers quickly became points and the Red Raiders are enjoying a 2-0 start. HHS outlasted McHenry 23-15 in the home opener Sept. 2. Big-play man Ben Wiley started the night by carrying a HHS flag and classmate James Lang’s interception concluded the “Gold Out Games” evening.

Lang stepped in front of a McHenry receiver for an interception with five seconds left. Senior defensive end Wiley provided heroics earlier with a 32-yard touchdown return.

Wiley had to overcome a momentary juggle of the football before carrying it to pay-dirt.

“This was my first touchdown,” he said. “I almost dropped it but just ran it in. It feels good to be 2-0.”

The HHS offense was led by junior running back Haiden Janke. Janke rushed 38 times for 193 yards and two touchdowns. The rushing game accounted for 254 of Huntley’s 291 yards. Janke  has 368 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games.

“I love it,” Janke said of rushing behind the Red Raiders’ offensive line. “They open up the gaps and I use the jump step. It’s amazing to be 2-0.”

McHenry closed the Huntley lead to 23-15 with two second half touchdowns as QB Dom Caruso led the visitors to four fourth-down conversions on a 200-yard passing night. They had 97 yards to go after a long Mason Wojtas punt and less than two minutes remaining and nearly pulled off the rally but fell to 0-2.

“I was so proud of the boys;” Huntley coach Mike Naymola said.

The week before it was senior linebacker Joey Arvidson’s fumble recoveries which helped turned the tide in a 37-20 win at Crystal Lake Central. He was one of the players who gave day-before speeches before the McHenry game.

“I’ve been playing at middle linebacker since my first year in football, kindergarten,” Arvidson said with a smile. “I like to pattern my game after Raquan Smith of the Bears.”

Next up for the Red Raiders is another 2-0 team, Prairie Ridge, Sept. 9 in Crystal Lake. The Wolves are a squad that has already gained 99 points. FVC’s other 2-0 team is Jacobs.

With the win, the Red Raiders moved above to 101-victories mark in its eight plus years in the FVC.