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Discipline will be key to Huntley's playoff chances

Rarely does an 8-1 football team fly below the radar, but the description fits dangerous Huntley with the Class 8A playoffs set to begin.

The Red Raiders won 8 regular-season games for only the second time in school history, according to published records, but that achievement has been overshadowed somewhat by the success of a state power within their own Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference. Undefeated league champ Cary-Grove, ranked No. 1 in Class 7A most of this season, has garnered the lion's share of attention.

Cary-Grove saddled the Red Raiders with their only defeat in Week 5, but the 42-14 final score is a bit misleading. Huntley scored midway though the third quarter to draw within 12-7, making it the only team besides Lake Zurich in Week 2 to come within a touchdown of the Trojans after halftime.

However, a breakdown on the next defensive series led to a long Cary-Grove touchdown pass. Deflated, Huntley unraveled after that.

Coach John Hart says his team has evolved in the 4 games since.

“I think we were just as physical as Cary, which is hard to say because they are a very physical team, but they were just a more disciplined team than us,” Hart said. “We broke our discipline and it cost us points. I think we've learned from that. If we're a disciplined team Saturday or anytime in the playoffs, I think this team has a real chance.”

Huntley's offense gives it a chance in any game, including Saturday's first-round playoff contest against visiting Palatine (7-2) at 2 p.m. The Red Raiders led the FVC Valley in scoring with 404 points (44.9 ppg).

The attack is triggered by efficient quarterback Anthony Binetti, who has completed 55.5 percent of his passes (96 of 173) for 1,667 yards. The junior has thrown 21 touchdowns while limiting his interceptions to 5.

“That's a huge part of it,” Binetti said of not turning the ball over. “We stress all the time not to make dumb decisions. Just tuck it and go.” Not afraid to scramble, the signal caller has 236 rushing yards on 68 carries.

Binetti has a trio of dependable senior receivers in Brandon Altergott (34 receptions, 715 yards, 6 TD), Josh Esikiel (29 rec., 419 yards, 7 TD) and Kyle Kesul (19 rec., 286 yards, 6 TD). Altergott has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.58 seconds, Esikiel excels at gaining yards after the catch and Kesul “does the Wes Welker work,” according to Hart.

A resilient offensive line has paved the way. Binetti called the unit of senior left tackle Ethan Zeller (6-foot-1, 260 pounds), senior left guard Justus Wood (5-11, 230), center Zach Johnson (6-2, 275), sophomore right guard Andrew Pertzborn (6-1, 270), and senior right tackle Tyler Kastner (6-6, 290) “one of the best offensive lines in our conference, by far. We've had a lot of big games and it's all been because of our offensive line.”

Zeller and Pertzborn were not starters originally, but they have fit in well after replacing two injured teammates. Junior Dominic Swanson (6-1, 245) was felled by a broken leg in the first week of the season, and senior Luke Scarbro (6-4, 265) was lost for the year early on due to a back issue. Both played every down in 2013.

“I think it speaks volumes of the spirit of teamwork we've created,” Hart said of the line's continued success with new personnel.

The Huntley offense balances its 1,721 passing yards with 1,848 rushing yards. When the Red Raiders run the ball, they do so behind junior Casey Haayer (100 carries, 638 yards, 11 TD) and freshman Eric Mooney (66 carries, 412 yards, 6 TD).

Clearing a path for those ball carriers is fullback Jake Witt, a 5-9, 220-pound senior whose lead-blocking resume reads like an IHOP menu.

“He has so many pancakes this year it's unbelievable,” Binetti said.

The defensive line is a team strength, led by seniors Jeremy Behnke (4.5 sacks), Zack Herbert (29 tackles) and Chase Burkart (22 tackles) and juniors Tim McCloyn (19 tackles, 4 sacks) and Tim Larson (19 tackles, 3 sacks).

Anything that slips past the defensive line is cleaned up by active inside linebackers Daniel Dennis (team-high 79 tackles, 7 TFL) and Mike Walker (71 tackles, 3 TFL). Junior Sean Patel leads the secondary with 15 passes defended and junior Anthony Bellantuono leads the team with 3 interceptions.

This is an important game for the Huntley football program to maintain forward momentum. In the past two years, District 158 has invested heavily in infrastructure — a new turf field, expanded bleachers, a new scoreboard, a weight training facility within the new field house currently under construction — to support a winning program, which now includes well over 200 participants at all levels.

Hart, who coached separate Indiana schools to state titles in 2007 and 2009, was brought in three years ago to “build up the program,” former Huntley athletic director Bruce Blumer said on the night of the hiring. He is 18-9 in three regular seasons but has yet to win a playoff game. His Red Raiders dropped a 10-9 decision to Fenwick in a Class 7A contest in 2012.

Huntley failed to make the playoffs last year, which is why Hart says the 2014 team enters the postseason with “a bit of a chip on its shoulder” and “has something to prove.”

A win against Palatine, if seeds hold, would set up a second-round clash with state power Glenbard West. Who knows? Maybe the Red Raiders would be able to translate a balanced, efficient offense and a physical defense into a second-round upset.

“We all get excited at random times, thinking about it, that we're in the playoffs,” Altergott said. “We want to make a run for the school and try to make history.”

If the Red Raiders can mount a successful postseason run in their first foray into Class 8A, the Huntley football program will fly under the radar no more.

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