Passing game proves tough weapon for foes
HUNTLEY — Huntley’s football team’s opponents know they will have to contend with a powerful passing game to win Fox Valley Conference clashes. Crystal Lake South will be the next foe on Friday.
Numbers tell the achievements for the Red Raiders, now 3-2 overall, 3-2 FVC after a 29-22 win at Hampshire Sept. 27. Jordan Oruche caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Braylon Bower with four minutes left for the final margin last Friday.
HHS’s passing attack is led by senior quarterback Bower. For five games, Bower is 62-for-109 pass attempts, 769 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior Wyatt Fleck and senior Jordan Oruche are his top targets. Fleck has 20 catches for 274 yards and four touchdowns while Oruche has 16 catches for 282 yards and three scores. Senior Zach Rysavy caught the other touchdown reception.
“Bower has been able to make plays over the past few years using his legs and arm to get it done,” Naymola said. “He’s a great football player and does what he needs to do so we can have offensive success on Friday nights. Sometimes it’s more running and other games it’s more passing. He’s a selfless player who just wants to help the team succeed.”
Naymola commented on Fleck and Oruche’s efforts to date.
“Oruche and Fleck have emerged as his favorite targets by being the most consistent playmakers at wide receiver this season,” the coach said. “Their big plays have helped us move the ball down the field in chunk plays as well as doing the not so flashy stuff like blocking or catching a critical four-yard hitch for a first down. We try to preach no ego on the team and just be happy for team success and the team has bought into that idea well.”
Bower, in addition passing the ball, has 61 rushes for 330 yards. Senior Reichen Dvorak and junior Gavin Havens are keys to the run game as well. Dvorak has 60 carries for 240 yards and four touchdowns while Havens has contributed 44 carries for 269 yards and four touchdowns.
Red Raiders back on track
In a thriller that went down to the final second, Huntley held off Hampshire, 29-22 and for a FVC victory Sept. 27.
“It was good to see us end up on the right side. We had some adversity but we fought through it and had enough big plays,” Naymola said. “We had a lousy second quarter, but got a big touchdown at the end of the first half. We did a nice job of staying on the field offensively with 70 plays.”
The Bower to Oruche pass ended a 414-yard night by the Huntley offense. Bower also rushed for 164 yards and a four-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Colin Hockmuth added a two-point conversion. Dvorak’s five-yard touchdown run tied it at 22-22 in the final seconds of the first half.
Against the Whip-Purs, Bower was 12-of-26 passing for 164 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Fleck had seven catches for 74 yards and one touchdown and Oruche snared five receptions for 90 yards and one score. Bower added 27 carries for 143 yards rushing. Dvorak carried the ball 14 times for 51 yards and one TD.
On defense, it was Zach Urbaszewski with six solo tackles, one assist and one tackle for loss while Carter Pope added four solos, one assist, one tackle for loss and one sack. Charlie Condon contributed three solos and one assisted tackle and Ari Fiebig had an interception.
