Manning delivers as man in the middle on defense

HUNTLEY – The night before each game several upperclassmen of the Huntley football team give motivational speeches before the next game.

“It is important to show the younger players what playing Huntley football has meant to us,” senior linebacker Dashaun Manning said. “But it’s hard to state in five minutes what 12 years of football in Huntley means.”

The Red Raiders’ achieved an 8-1 regular season and co-Fox Valley Conference title. Huntley will host Andrew, (6-3) of Tinley Park in the first playoff game.

Manning is the team leader on a defense with his 76 total tackles. The Huntley defense  surrendered 159 points points in an 8-1, 8-1 Fox Valley Conference  season as HHS won a share of the league crown with Jacobs and Prairie Ridge. Manning had a nine-tackle game the week against Dundee-Crown in Week 8.

A decision he made three years ago shaped his mindset about football.

“I used to be a running back but decided I would rather give the hits than take the hits,” Manning said.

The Red Raiders have used their tenacity in the red or scoring zone to turn the tide in two of their wins. These include 17-14 over Cary-Grove (as time expired) and 31-19 over Dundee-Crown and were steady in the regular-season finale against Crystal Lake South, a 27-19 victory.

“We seem to be able to rally together well under pressure,” Manning said. “Against Cary-Grove, it was the underclassmen who made the big plays and against Dundee-Crown, it was that we were able to get some penetration.”

Off-season morning Workouts helped bond the Red Raiders to an eight-win season so far. “The 6 a.m. Workouts brought us closer together as a team,” Manning said.

HHS head coach Mike Naymola summarized Manning’s meaning to the team.

“Manning has been the best defensive player on the field in every game we’ve played in,”  Naymola said. “His stats back up that statement but what goes unnoticed is how great of a teammate he is and how loved he is amongst his peers. Manning plays with such great football instincts and that helps him get into the best position possible to make all the plays he makes. Manning led our team in tackles as a junior from the corner position so moving him to an inside linebacker was obvious to us.”

“I’m a leader but I’m a vocal leader who leads by example,” Manning said. “I’m a vocal leader when it needs to be done.”

The only game in the first eight where the offense has had the edge over the Red Raiders, was QB Tyler Vasey and the Prairie Ridge Wolves, who gave HHS a 35-7 loss.

“I played youth football with Vasey from fifth to eighth grade for the Crystal Lake Raiders,” Manning said.

Manning, who hopes to play football in college, admires the linebacker play of Roquan Smith of the Bears. “I like the way he plays inside linebacker and his hand skills.”