It would have been easy for senior linebacker Charlie Zornow and Huntley’s defense to hang their heads Friday given the way Prairie Ridge quarterback Samson Evans put up points.
The Red Raiders stayed close and emerged heads held high despite three second-half turnovers and the loss of coach Matt Zimolzak to an ejection.
“I think we came back as a team and we played like men tonight,” Zornow said.
Huntley and Zornow matched Prairie Ridge’s physical style, but fell 51-43 in the Fox Valley despite four touchdown passes from Red Raiders quarterback Eric Mooney.
“They had a couple key third downs and other than that the whole thing could have swung the other way, and we could have won the game,” Zornow said. “Prairie Ridge plays until the whistle blows and they have a great quarterback who’s big and difficult to bring down.
“It was a test of how ready we were. I thought we played a great game, honestly.”
Evans rambled on the option for five TDs and gained 244 yards on 32 carries. He also threw for two TDs, yet the Wolves (2-0, 2-0) had trouble shaking Huntley (1-1, 1-1) before pulling down their 16th straight victory.
“We made our mistakes tonight, but nobody out there made excuses,” Huntley assistant coach Mike Slattery said. “And we’ve got some kids out there who are pretty young.”
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Evans bolted 70 yards around right end to score on the second play from scrimmage. He also ran 67 yards around left end, then cut back to the right sideline for a third-quarter TD to break a 21-21 tie.
Two interceptions and one play with three Huntley unsportsmanlike conduct penalties — including Zimolzak’s ejection — led to two Prairie Ridge TDs.
Down 41-21, the Red Raiders appeared headed for a blowout loss.
“Not this team,” Zornow said. “Same thing last week. We got down, but came back and we won that game with Jacobs.
“I think we have the best group of guys who’ve been here in my high school career. We’re pleased, but know we can be better.”
Mooney threw TD passes of 1 and 14 yards to Ryan Antonsen, who had nine catches for 118 yards. He also completed a fourth-and-5 TD pass of 15 yards to Michael Boland and an 11-yard TD to Brian O’Mara.
Mooney finished 14-for-24 for 239 yards and ran in a 14-yarder, as well. His Tim Tebow-style jump pass on fourth-and-goal to Antonsen and two-point conversion pass pulled Huntley within eight, but the onside kick failed with 1:23 left. Prairie Ridge then ran out the clock.
With Zimolzak unavailable afterward, Mooney addressed the team. Huntley’s coach must also miss next week’s game against Dundee-Crown because of the ejection.
“I told them one loss is not our season,” Mooney said. “It hurts, yeah, but we rallied and came together offensively and defensively. It’s promising.
“Obviously we wanted to win them all, but I think this loss will bring us together even more.”
Twitter @genechamberlai2