Make it official: IHSA releases football schedules

HUNTLEY — The Illinois High School Association officially announced football schedules for 2023.

The Red Raiders’ season will consist of all Fox Valley Conference contests. All games begin at 7 p.m. Fridays with the exception of Oct. 7, which is a 1 p.m. start at Cary-Grove due to the Trojans’ homecoming.

The varsity season begins with the Red Raiders hosting Crystal Lake Central Aug. 25.

The remainder of the schedule: Sept. 1, at McHenry; Sept. 8, home, Jacobs; Sept. 15, at Prairie Ridge; Sept. 22, home, Hampshire; Sept. 29, home, Crystal Lake South; Oct. 7, at Cary-Grove; Oct. 13, home Dundee-Crown; Oct. 20, at Burlington Central.

The Red Raiders are led by second-year head coach Mike Naymola. HHS, 8-2 overall, was co-FVC champs with Prairie Ridge (state runner-up in Class 7A) and Jacobs in 2022. Huntley lost to Andrew in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs last season.

“I have been coaching in the FVC for 12 years and I think this is the most balanced it has ever been,” Naymola said.

HHS is tops in official FVC enrollment, at 2,996 students, according to the IHSA.

The first official football practice date across Illinois is Aug. 7.