During Jeremy Hunt’s varsity debut Friday night as Oak Park-River Forest’s starting quarterback, coach John Hoerster showed plenty of confidence in the junior.
Hunt threw 33 passes in a 14-13 nonconference upset over ranked Lincoln-Way East, while three different ball carries rushed a combined 25 times, including 10 by Hunt for nine yards.
“There’s nothing more I can say,” Hoerster said. “He will get better and sharper. His decision making was perfect. He threw some outstanding balls. There were drops, but we’ll fix things. I have confidence in our wide receivers. I’m so proud of (Hunt).”
Hunt completed 19 passes for 144 yards in his debut. Hunt replaced three-year starter Lloyd Yates, now a freshman at Northwestern. Yates led OPRF in rushing and passing last season and set a school record by throwing and carrying for 72 TDs in his career.
Hunt connected with senior receiver Breshawn Wilkerson for the tying touchdown with 5 minutes, 28 seconds remaining. Hunt’s 7-yard pass to Wilkerson was both the first TD pass and TD reception, respectively, by each. Hunt threw to six different receivers, while Wilkerson led the Huskies with seven catches for 59 yards.
OPRF took the lead for good on Keegan Smith’s point-after kick.
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“During school I was nervous (about the game),” Hunt said. “Once I was in the game, I started to relax and calm down. My brothers (teammates) calmed me by telling me, ‘We have your back.””
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Hunt, who also plays basketball and baseball, said some calming pre-game advice came from defensive end Connor Nelson and linebacker Jahmari Moore, both seniors.
For the tying touchdown, Wilkerson caught the ball near the goal line and bowled his way in.
“We go over that same play in practice time after time,” Wilkerson said. “We’ve had reps all summer. It’s easy. Jeremy is my guy.”
Hunt connected with senior Cole Fields for a 15-yard gain on his first pass attempt just three plays into OPRF’s first possession. On the next play, Hunt passed to a wide-open Airmando Flores, who was headed to the end zonebut the ball passed through his hands. OPRF receivers dropped six passes total.
Game notes
Allen Stallings knows where his game-saving tackle late in the fourth quarter Friday night ranks in his career. At the top.
Stallings’ stick on fourth-and-1 at Oak Park-River Forest’s 25-yard line preserved the upset win for the Huskies. The 6-2, 220-pound junior defensive end, a standout wrestler on OPRF’s Class 3A state championship team, shed a block and burst through Lincoln-Way East’s offensive line to trip up leading rusher Liam Morrissey for a 1-yard loss with 1:50 to play.
Morrissey (29 carries, 111 yards) rushed for 1,500 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
That ended the Griffins’ nine-play drive that started at their own 31 after OPRF scored its second touchdown of the game.
“I knew I had to make that play, make it for my team and for my family,” Stallings said. “It was the best move of my football career. I used my speed, to be honest.”
As the right defensive end, Stallings battled against Illinois-recruit left tackle Kurt Gavin, a 6-5, 270-pound senior. Stallings also had a sack in the second quarter.
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“He is an explosive player,” OPRF coach Hoerster said of Stallings. “If I was a college coach, I don’t want to make a mistake on (not recruiting) Allen Stallings. He has a gift.”
Twitter: @geomwilcox