Garifo assists Red Raiders readiness
HUNTLEY — One of the seven senior Huntley captains helped to get start the varsity football Fridays going strong.
Zack Garifo, a wide receiver and safety, enjoyed his responsibility of leading the Red Raiders onto the field for warm-ups as he carried the “H” flag against Niles West for a Class 8A playoff game Oct. 27. The Red Raiders won 26-14 but lost in the second round to St. Ignatius College Prep, 35-23, on Nov. 3.
“The ‘H’ flag means a lot to us,” Garifo said. “We started it last year and it is truly an honor to be able to walk out with it. On game day the team is always ready to go. Our coaches make sure that we understand what we’re doing for the game and then they let us be. We always have music playing in the locker room that helps some guys get hyped up. My pregame routine is to listen to music by myself. The last song I listen always listen to is ‘Run This Town.’”
In the playoff victory, Garifo’s blocked punt was recovered by Travis Dudycha for the Red Raiders’ 12-point lead. In the closing seconds Garifo knocked down a final Niles West pass.
Huntley finished with a 8-1 Fox Valley Conference, 9-2 final record. In the second round game against St. Ignatius, Garifo caught passes of 28- and 15-yards from quarterback Braylon Bower. On defense, he had six solo tackles, three assists and two tackles for loss.
Naymola’s comments
“Gsrifo has arguably been our best defensive player for the 2023 season,” head coach Mike Naymola said. “As a returning all-conference player from his junior season we had high expectations for him and he has certainly lived up to the. After a minor setback this summer where he dealt with a fractured ankle, he bounced back quickly and constantly performed on the field. He played more snaps than any other player in our program and he also started at wide receiver for us. His speed and play making ability was on fill display as he scored on offense, defense and special teams for us this season. Garifo is an extremely coachable young man who has a high football IQ which led to being able to handle such a workload each game. He will be missed but his contributions to Huntley football will not be forgotten.”
Sports are a way of life for dad Kyle and mom Kristin Garifo and two football playing boys and an older daughter in college. Kyle Garifo is an assistant coach who works with the freshman team at HHS. Easton is his younger brother and plays on the Middleweight Premier Black team of Red Raider Youth Football and had a 9-1 season. Ava Garifo is a 2022 HHS alumna who was a four-year cheerleader and captain. She is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky.
“I did coach Zack in his freshman year at Huntley,” Kyle Garifo said. “I’ve actually been coaching him since the fifth grade in youth football as well. He played both safety and receiver as a freshman during the COVID-19 year (2020).”
Kyle Garifo played prep football at Buffalo Grove and then at Illinois Wesleyan University where he was an all-conference receiver.
“I have really enjoyed watching Zack develop as a player over the years,” Kyle said. “I think I may have had to convince him to play the sport I love so much and now it is a huge passion for him. He has developed from a small skinny kid to a young man who loves the physicality of football and looks to punish the other players whether on offense or defense. As a former receiver myself, I am sometimes surprised how physical he is. It is been amazing to watch him become not only an amazing player but more importantly, a leader on and off the field.”
