Football season kicks off
HUNTLEY — Preparation concluded this week for the football season opener, as Huntley takes on Crystal Lake Central at CLC Aug. 30.
“We expect CLC to pose a challenge as they do each year,” Huntley head coach Mike Naymola said. “They were one of the best defenses we saw last year and I don’t see why that will change. I know they lost a lot of offensive firepower but coach Dirk Stanger will have them ready to go.”
Naymola is in his third season as head Red Raiders head football coach, 13th total at HHS. He began his head coach role with a win over the Tigers in 2022. The Red Raiders had 8-2 and 9-2 records the past two seasons. Last season, Huntley won a first round Class 8A playoff game over Niles West. A new group of leaders is poised for success.
“I want the players to have an experience they will remember forever and be a part of something they can be proud of,” Naymola said. “Our goals are to win the Fox Valley Conference, make the playoffs and have playoff success.”
The Red Raiders opened the final week of pre-season practice indoors at the field house due to this week’s heat wave.
Naymola said certain factors will again be needed to go well this season.
“Finishing drives and getting off the field on third downs (on defense) and winning the turnover battle,” Naymola said.
HHS will have two new running backs to replace graduated Haiden Janke, who rushed for 1,369 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. Junior Gavin Havens and senior Reichen Dvorak (100 yards rushing last season) are getting the looks at running back.
“Havens and Dvorak are splitting reps equally. They’ve both had really good summers and we’re happy to have two capable backs,” the coach said.
They will be taking handoffs from senior quarterback Braylon Bower. Bower had a strong junior season, with 1,467 yards passing and he completed more than 70 percent of his passes. He rushed for 405 yards.
“Having Bower back is huge for us,” Naymola said. “We will go as far as Bower leads us. He will be the engine that makes us go on offense.”
A group of receivers are going to be in the mix. They are seniors Jordan Oruche, Colin Hochmuth, Zach Rysavy and juniors Conner Wade and Wyatt Fleck.
Several experienced Red Raiders will be battling in the trenches again. They are seniors Carter Pope and Charlie Condon; juniors Travis Dudycha and Mason Maldanado.
“We return quite a bit on our front seven and most of them are not seniors yet so we expect to be solid up front defensively,” Naymola said.
For special teams, senior Dominic Guiseffi, a former soccer player, gets the leading nod for kickoffs and field goals.
Naymola said he was happy with the progress made in summer camp, leading up to the first day of practice Aug. 12.
“By now we pretty much know who we are and what we have,” the coach said. “It’s been a tough summer in terms of competition we’ve seen but we’re much better for it.”
The FVC, which Huntley won in 2022, includes Class 6A State Champion Cary-Grove. Following the opener against the Tigers, the all-FVC regular season continues with McHenry coming to Red Raider Stadium Sept. 6. Prairie Ridge won the FVC title last season.
The remainder of the Huntley’s schedule: Sept. 13, at Jacobs; Sept. 20, Prairie Ridge, home; Sept. 27, at Hampshire; Oct. 4, at Crystal Lake South; Oct. 11, Cary-Grove, home; Oct. 18, at Dundee-Crown and Oct. 25, Burlington Central, home.
“It’s always a challenge working through the FVC,” Naymola said. “We see any kind of offense you could want throughout the season so that poses challenges in itself. Each year there is a team that emerges so it will be cool to see which team that is this year. I anticipate Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge will continue to be tough but we cannot count anyone out.”
