Huntley opponents are about to get a good look at a more patient Eric Mooney.
They may not like what they see.
A key varsity contributor since he played wide receiver and running back as a freshman, Mooney is now a polished, poised quarterback for a team loaded with talent despite being hit hard by graduation.
“I wouldn’t say last year I was timid as a passer,” Mooney said. “I would say I had happy feet. If I saw someone blitz or something, I would tuck it a little too early.
“This year using I’m using the pocket a little more. I’m seeing that blitz even before it happens.”
If it comes down to it, there’s also nothing wrong with Mooney taking off out of the pocket.
He scrambled and ran read-option plays as a junior for 1,099 yards and 18 touchdowns while passing for 1,653 yards and 12 TDs in his first year as starting quarterback.
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“He put in the work in the offseason and summer trying to improve — he wasn’t satisfied,” Huntley coach Matt Zimolzak said of Mooney. “He’s really made strides, particularly as a passer.”
Harvard and Yale are among a total of 12 schools expressing interest or making offers to the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Mooney. He recently made a visit to Northern Iowa, which also offered a scholarship.
“It’s my second year as a quarterback reading defenses,” Mooney said. “Finding the holes in defenses is where I’ve improved the most.”
Huntley opens Friday at Jacobs, and everything about the Red Raiders says Mooney will get the chance to pass.
One reason is wide receiver Ryan Antonsen, a 6-2, 210-pound senior. Now 100 percent healthy, Antonsen played sparingly last year due to a back injury.
“Going up and high-pointing a ball is probably my specialty — making the tough catches,” Antonsen said of catching the ball at its highest point.
He’s not the only Huntley receiver who can do that. Senior returners Brian O’Mara and Matt Gelander are 6-2, while junior Michael Boland is 6-1. Ron Noll is the deep threat with sprinter’s speed.
Mooney also can lean on senior running back Melvin Aninagyei-Bonsu, an explosive backfield option.
“He’s a hole-finder, a kid who has great vision and knows how the plays are developing,” Zimolzak said. “He complements Eric back there.”
A more mobile offensive line than last year’s group is led by seniors Joey Wilson (6-1, 250), Justin Precour (6-5, 285) and center Ben Dworski (6-2, 270).
“Because we’ve got more speed with our line, it means we can pass more, pass protect better,” Mooney said.
Antonsen, a weak-side linebacker, is the only Red Raider player going both ways. The linebackers are led by physical returning starter Charlie Zornow.
“I love playing downhill,” Zornow said. “I like the contact and hitting backs.”
Junior nose tackle Alex Pitrone (6-2, 295) keeps the blockers off the linebackers.
“Pitrone has a lot of size,” Zornow said. “He loves to eat. He eats up running backs, too.”
Tyler Koss and Cam’Ron Carrington are big-play types in the secondary.
Huntley has a habit of producing standout pass rushers, and defensive end Justin Allen (5-11, 215) fits the mold.
Although Huntley returns only five starters on offense and four on defense, Zimolzak anticipates no problems. There is strength in numbers, and the program has more than 200 players.
“For us, it’s a case of pay your dues,” Zimolzak said. “With that many kids, they’re only going to play as seniors or possibly two years. It’s rare when we have ones like Eric, who start multiple years.”
Twitter @genechamberlai2
Mike Clark’s Chicago-area preseason top 20
With last season’s final record in parentheses
1. Glenbard West (10-3): WR Alec Pierce, RBs Ryan Diver and Dre Thomas lead potent attack.
2. Maine South (11-3): NIU recruit Fotis Kokosioulis is one of state’s most exciting players.
3. Waubonsie Valley (6-5): QB Tanner Westwood, TE Charles Robinson a great pass-catch duo.
4. Lincoln-Way East (9-3): DE Devin O’Rourke (Northwestern), great team speed are two pluses.
5. Prairie Ridge (14-0): Veteran QB Samson Evans (Iowa) makes defending Class 6A champs go.
6. Loyola (13-1): Ramblers must weather injuries, tough early schedule (Phillips, Bishop Amat, Mount Carmel)
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7. Lyons (8-3): Ben Bryant (Cincinnati), one of state’s top QBs, makes Lions a force in West Suburban Silver.
8. Homewood-Flossmoor (10-1): RB/DB Justin Hall (NIU), DE Jeffrey Griffin (NIU), LB Mario Wright (Western Kentucky) lead way
9. Naperville Central (4-5): Transfers QB Peyton Thorne, WR Jayden Reed (Western Michigan) provide big boost.
10. Lake Zurich (8-3): LB Jack Sanborn (Wisconsin) leads veteran group of 12 returning starters.
11. Palatine (12-1): QB DJ Angelaccio has playoff experience, plus plenty of capable targets.
12. Marist (8-2): West Virginia-bound TJ Ivy is latest talented TE for RedHawks.
13. Mount Carmel (8-5): QB Alek Thomas, Caravan look to rebound after rare nonplayoff season.
14. Phillips (11-2): QB J’Bore Gibbs, RB/LB Craig Elmore lead Public League’s best.
15. Brother Rice (9-3): Big OL means Crusaders’ offensive focus shifts to power running game.
16. New Trier (8-3): Northwestern-bound WR Brian Kaiser (6-7, 210) a tough matchup.
17. St. Rita (5-6): Mustangs are more experienced than last season, especially on offense.
18. Hinsdale Central (9-1): RB Luke Skokna, WR Garrett Oakey, TE Matt Bjorson (Indiana) offer options.
19. Cary-Grove (10-2): Offensive backfield is new, but big, experienced offensive line will ease transition.
20. Montini (7-4): New coach Mike Bukovsky has plenty of veterans back on offense.