Nielsen, a senior, reached 17 goals on the season with a hat trick and added an assist. The Red Raiders advanced to its Class 3A regional final with a 6-0 shutout of Rockford Jefferson Oct. 17.

"We had a meeting and decided that Nielsen has the 'it' factor," Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said. “He can turn around a match when he wants to.

The weather was frightful, from wind and drizzle to a downpour, but the Red Raiders dominated D-C, 35-7, Oct. 13 for a 7-1, 7-1 FVC record.

Senior Zach Rysavy made it a night he won't soon forget. He returned a Chargers' punt 50 yards for a touchdown.

The Red Raiders were 27-6 heading into the week. The Fox Valley Conference champs (15-1) have league battles against Dundee-Crown Oct. 17 and Burlington Central Oct. 19, both at HHS. Then it is on to the Rockford East Class 4A Regional five days later.

Huntley lost the first set to C-G, 19-25, but bounced back with 25-16, 25-17 victories Oct.

Juniors Burkey and Weishaar recorded three wins by 6-0, 6-0 sweeps. They reached their goal as they advanced to the Oct. 19-21 Class 2A IHSA Girls State Tournament as runner-ups at the Cary-Grove Sectional Oct. 14.

Burkey and Weishaar posted a 3-1 record at the sectional.

Huntley secured a share of the Fox Valley Conference championship with a convincing 4-0 win over Burlington Central Oct. 10. The Red Raiders tied Crystal Lake South with 8-1 league records and were 14-5-1.

Hudson Nielsen got the scoring going with two penalty kicks in the first half with a 2-0 lead. They upped his goal scoring total to 14 on a team which has topped 50 scores.

In support of these initiatives, the Bears will make a $2,000 donation to the Huntley High School football program. The athlete All-Star Week winner was Nick Peipert, the Barrington High School quarterback, and direct a $500 donation to a youth program of Peipert's choosing, according to the team web site.

Describe your youth football years.

Jack Laughlin: “During my youth football days I played for the Huntley Mustangs. I started playing in fourth grade and have been playing since.”

Any recent grads who helped influence your work ethic?

Laughlin: “Some recent grads that have helped me get better and influence are Josh Witt and Connor Ardell. These people were the main reason i showed up every day because they made the sport so much fun and enjoyable.”

Describe the togetherness of the senior class has since reporting freshman year.

Tiberi: “My class has a special bond like no other, due to us being the COVID-19 year. We had a shortened season by two games which made us appreciate football more.”

Describe your youth football days, other sports growing up?

Describe the togetherness of the Class of 2024?

Crudele: “There have been a few changes since our Class of 2024 freshman year. We got to see who really cared for the sport of football and this team. We grew as a unit and are ready to play our best football. I bounced around the interior offensive line from left guard my freshman year to center and then to right guard my junior and senior seasons.”

Describe the togetherness of the senior class has since reporting freshman year.

Garifo: “The togetherness of the senior class has been unreal. Since our freshman year was COVID year, we didn't really get to spend a lot of time together. This has made us grow closer since we all missed the same year and wanted to have as much time as possible now to play a sport we all love.

HUNTLEY — Huntley standout running back Haiden Janke has been racking up the yards and touchdowns for two seasons now.

Through seven Red Raiders games, and a 6-1 HHS record, Janke has amassed 854 total rushing yards on 128 carries and 17 touchdowns, heading into the senior night game, Oct. 13 against Dundee-Crown.

Janke answered senior player survey questions.

Describe the togetherness of the senior class and any position changes for you since?

“We've known each other for a long time through lessons at The Racket Club,” Doughty, the senior and No. 1 singles layer, said.

Gia Patel, playing at No. 2 singles, has taken the season on by storm, with a 30-1 record as a freshman. Both Doughty and Patel won singles titles as part of Huntley's fourth straight Fox Valley Conference championship.

The Red Raiders secured their 2023 title with a 25-13, 25-17 victory over Crystal Lake South and a 14-1 FVC record.

“It's one step on the list of goals every single season,” HHS coach Karen Naymola said. “It's a big accomplishment because we don't take anyone lightly.”

The bad news on Oct. 10 was the injury to senior middle blocker and outside hitter Georgia Watson.

Putty, a 2023-24 junior, is one of this season's commits to the University of Illinois baseball program. The Illinois head coach, Dan Hartleb, has amassed 532 victories in 19 seasons at Illinois. Putty's prep coach at Huntley, Andy Jakubowski, earned career win No. 500 last season and totals 514 overall wins.

“Putty visited Eastern Illinois and U of I – there were other schools but he chose not to go on a visit,” Jakubowski said.

The Red Raiders will go for an outright FVC championship when they host Crystal Lake South Oct. 10.

Against PR, Laura Boberg tallied 18 assists, two kills and two digs. Morgan Jones pitched in six digs, four kills, one block and one ace.

In the win over the Whip-Purs, it was Jones leading with nine kills and eight digs; Laura Boberg tallied 23 assists, four digs and three kills; Lizzy Williams had eight kills and eight digs; Georgia Watson had five kills, eight digs and two aces and Mari Rodriquez led the back row with 11 digs.

The Red Raiders posted a 4-1 triumph at Dundee-Crown Oct. 5 for a 7-1 Fox Valley Conference record. They are tied with Crystal Lake South for the league's lead with only a game with Burlington Central Oct. 10 remaining. The Red Raiders' lone FVC loss was an 1-0 overtime defeat to Cary-Grove Oct. 3.

Officials gathered near a pylon of the Cary-Grove end zone. The scoreboard read host Trojans 28, Huntley 27. Would the Red Raiders' Jacob Witt's second catch in as many seconds, for a two-point conversion from quarterback Braylon Bower hold up? Then the referee held up both hands, and Huntley had prevailed, 29-28 on a memorable Oct.

Senior boys honored are: Luke Grubbs, Zach Zuzzio, Ryan Anderson, Logan Borzych, John Collins, Zach Donlea, Noah Jensen, Matt Markowski, Andrew McVeen and Jacob Stalino.

Allison, Grubbs and Zuzzio have helped the underclassmen learn the nuances of the sport.

“Allison, Zuzzio and Grubbs share a post-season goal of helping their teams qualify for the state meet,” head coach Matt Kaplan said.

This season, Willis is a freshman contributing to the McHenry County College Scots, a junior college power building for another run at the NJCAA Volleyball National Tournament. MCC, under the direction of Kyle McCall, finished ninth at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa nationals.

“Willis is doing well,” McCall said. “She has moved into the starting role on the right side for us.”

“Sloan played a season best of 82 on Monday,” Red Raiders coach Lindsey Allen said. “This is an exciting finish to a great season. I cannot wait to see where she goes in her senior year.”

“Dingbaum posted an impressive final round of 82 at sectional,” Allen commented.