As an estimated 4,000 fans looked on at homecoming night at Red Raider Stadium Sept. 20, Prairie Ridge, the defending Fox Valley Conference champions downed Huntley, 35-13. Huntley was 2-2, overall, 2-2 FVC after the loss and is preparing for a FVC clash at Hampshire 1-3, 1-3, Sept. 27.

"We welcomed the challenge of facing Prairie Ridge at homecoming," Huntley coach Mike Naymola said.

On a steamy day at the pitch, four different players scored goals for the Red Raiders, who moved up to 5-4-2 with the non-conference win.

"We were rocking and rolling. Our focus was definitely the offense," Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said.

Huntley came out firing shots on goal from the start. Tallying goals were Aiden Felz (Allen Williams assist); Anthony Frelas (Felz); Tylar Caddick (Lazar Karanovic) and Aktai Mametjanov (Nate Rodriquez).

The Cary-Grove alumna, Naymola, and her mentor, Langanis, squads squared off Sept. 17 at Cary-Grove. Naymola, who formerly coached at Hampshire, led the Red Raiders to a comfortable 2-0 win. The match represented 1,236 combined wins and five state playoff appearances.

Langanis has reached her 30th year guiding the Trojans and has totaled 734 victories. The Trojans have won 10 regional titles, four sectionals, four trips to the IHSA state finals, with one IHSA title (2009) and two second-place finishes.

The Red Raiders were without their leader offensively, as senior Georgia Watson was injured before a match at Cary-Grove Sept. 17. Her teammates picked up the slack for Watson, who is a University of Kentucky commit. Huntley gained a 25-11, 25-18 triumph for a 7-1, 6-1 FVC mark and their sixth straight win.

“We have such a good group of talented athletes, who can play different positions, and have played together for years,” Huntley coach Karen Naymola said.

Nitz finished third in the boys varsity race with a time of 14:56.8. Teammates' efforts also included juniors Nathan Sauber in 42nd, 16:34.5; Brandon Thompson, 45th, 16:34.5 and Logan Barreto ran a 16:46.0. The Red Raiders ended seventh in meet standings with 205 points.

“In terms of considerations for the warmer temperatures, meet directors have the option to move up the time schedule to try and get races in the earlier hours as the temps start to rise,” HHS cross country coach Matt Kaplan said.

Huntley, 2-1, will try and bounce back from a 26-15 loss to Jacobs in the annual clash of rivals Sept. 13.

The Wolves, defending FVC champs, are 3-0 and a top-10 ranked team. Their offense has already topped the 100-point mark. Quarterback Luke Vanderwiel and running backs Jake Wagler and Jack Finn lead the potent offense.

Sophomore Kinsey Hayes ended in fourth place with a score of 85 for the 18-hole event at Boone Creek Golf Club in Bull Valley. Senior Maddie Sloan was seventh with an 88. The Red Raiders posted a strong team finish of 378, edging McHenry by one shot.

Red Raiders girls golf coach Lindsay Allen commented on the top two finishers at the Sept.

Currently Jenkins is an assistant coach for the Red Raiders  defensive linemen. He played on NIU's defensive line from 2009-11.

“What I enjoyed most about the (NIU) win over Notre Dame was how the players played with no fear going against such a historic program,” Jenkins said. “They stuck with their game plan and ran the ball while the defense took advantage of the mistakes Notre Dame made offensively.

“Bhathal had three birdies (hole Nos. one, two and five) and six pars,” Huntley coach Collin  Kalamatas said. “He was so solid on the greens, making a ton of putts from outside of 10 feet. He was just so consistent putting the ball. And he really gave himself a chance by being very good off the tee.

The quartet of Tyler Roberts, Hayden Lidgett, Diego Luna and Jack Bakey, don the McHenry Country Scots purple this fall on the pitch for the junior college school in Crystal Lake. Last year they were on a Red Raiders team that was co-Fox Valley Conference champs and won a regional title.

“It's good, it keeps us going in soccer,” Luna, a forward, said after a recent practice.

The Red Raiders gained a 5-1 triumph over Woodstock North at the Red Raiders quad Sept. 7. Senior captain Mason Leslie led the way with two goals.

“The win should help a lot with our confidence and build on it,” Leslie said.

Leslie scored the third goal of the first half and added a second on an unusual shot in the second half. 

The Huntley running back tandem of Reichen Dvorak and Gavin Havens is doing just that. They led the Red Raiders to a 44-0 win over McHenry Sept. 6, for a two-game points total differential of 79-7 in a 2-0 beginning. Huntley aims to keep its wins coming when the Red Raiders battle at Jacobs (1-1) Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. In Fox Valley Conference action.

The new approach gives a balanced look since talented running back Haiden Janke graduated last spring after a 1,300-yard season.

Head coach Karen Naymola had the smile of a milestone accomplished Sept. 5, as she accepted flowers to mark her 500th volleyball coaching win.

"I'm emotional because we were able to get No. 500 when my daughters, Lizzy and Abby Whitehouse, are on the team," Naymola said. "I was extremely fortunate to get a head coaching job when I was young.

The Red Raiders trounced Jacobs, 25-9. 25-15 Sept. 3 following a win over McHenry, 25-19, 25-17 Aug. 29 for a 3-1, 2-1 FVC record.

Against Jacobs, Huntley outside hitter and University of Kentucky commit Georgia Watson led with 10 kills, had two digs and added two service aces.

“We worked on serving for an hour at practice,” Watson said.

Nitz finished 21st at the IHSA Boys Class 3A State Meet last year, was fourth at sectional and won regional and conference. But he had not won the season opening McHenry County Meet, until he earned first place Aug. 31 at McHenry Township Park.

"I had finished second the last two years at county," Nitz said. "It's a hard course but a fun, good way to start the season."

“McHenry is a different team than last year,” Huntley coach Mike Naymola said. “They play fast and aggressive on film and we look forward to the challenge they present. They were two yards shy of a win last week and I'm sure that will only motivate them more to get ready for us.

Olympian Simone Biles' reaching 11 total artistic gymnastic medals following the Paris Olympics is the top reason, but there are other factors, Hugs Gymnastics owner Jenn Baker says.

"We get a lot of calls just before and during the Olympics," Baker said. "Everyone wants to be the next Olympian."

On a Wednesday evening, participants said they of course followed but also the Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and the whole team that made artistic gymnastics a hit.

Huntley senior Maddie Sloan made a strong finish to end well at the Huntley Invite at Pinecrest Golf Course Aug. 22.

Sloan concluded with a third-place score of 37 for nine holes. Sophomore Kinsey Hayes was next with a 42, for an 11th place finish. Freshman Miranda Hoeft had a 48 for the 23rd spot and senior Taryn Rainey turned in a 49 score for 26th.

Red Raiders standout Anna Campanelli has committed to Kent State University, a D-1 school which won the Mid-American Conference title last winter from Kent, Ohio.

“We are so excited for Campanelli and for the opportunity she has to play at Kent State,” Huntley girls basketball coach Steve Raethz said. “She has worked so hard to put herself in a position to play at the collegiate level and we are really excited to have the chance to coach her one more season at Huntley.

Huntley 2016 alumnus Anthony Binetti, the late coach Joel Popenfoose and his sons Marcus, Adam and Casey were honored at Fall Kickoff Night Aug. 24. Joel was an assistant football coach for more than a decade and his son Adam played for the storied 2001 team.

Binetti's achievements on the field were leading the HHS squad to 17 victories, one Class 8A playoff win and one Fox Valley Conference outright title.

“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.