Huntley tops Jacobs after slow start
Huntley's offense didn't have much time to work with in the first half, which quarterback Bruno Bosman was able to use to the Red Raiders' advantage.
On third-and-4 from the Raiders' 45, Bosman took the snap and kept the ball instead of throwing. He darted up the middle, made a cut, faked out another Jacobs defender and broke free for a 55-yard touchdown with 5 seconds remaining.
The score gave Huntley its first lead and sparked a more productive second half. Bosman ran for two more touchdowns in the third quarter and threw a touchdown pass in the fourth as the Raiders won, 42-8, in their Fox Valley Conference football game Friday night at Red Raider Stadium.
"They were spreading out, expecting pass with 20 seconds left," Bosman said. "We had a timeout, and we had room to run. It worked out well for us. It was just knowing we're ahead (at halftime) and we get the ball back and can really get ahead. Try to put our foot on their throat as quick as we can.
"We came out slow, but once you get to play football after a year-and-a-half and you get to see it again, we got firing on all cylinders and we just had fun out there."
Huntley (1-0, 1-0 FVC) rolled up 455 total yards on offense and Bosman (18 carries, 151 yards) and running back Alex Janke (17, 143) both passed 100 yards rushing.
Jacobs (0-1, 0-1) scored on its second possession with sophomore quarterback Sam Deligio hitting freshman tight end Grant Stec for a 24-yard touchdown. Deligio then connected with Max Stec, Grant's senior brother, for the 2-point conversion.
The Raiders scored with 3:05 remaining in the second quarter on Janke's 11-yard run, then took a 13-8 halftime lead on Bosman's run.
"We just didn't come out," Huntley coach Matt Zimolzak said. "Our first quarter was one of the least-disciplined, less-aggressive quarters we've ever played. They weren't going to let that dictate the rest of the game.
"They were able to rally around Bruno and he's a tremendous leader. He always has that read, that option and he knows what to do with it. He understands the scheme and he's one of the smartest kids we've got on our team."
Jacobs was hurt by poor field position in the second half and Huntley took advantage.
The Golden Eagles struggled to produce offensively like they had in the first half and Huntley put the game out of reach.
"The defense played well. The defensive line really worked out there, got in there and played physical," Janke said. "It was up to the line. The line played good and we won."
Jacobs coach Matt Zimmerman, in his first game as head coach taking over for Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Bill Mitz, appreciated the way his team came out. The Eagles handed Huntley its only regular-season loss last season and the Raiders came back to share the FVC championship.
"I like the way we started," Zimmerman said. "We had a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We told these guys we could play with them. We proved we could compete with them for a half, but we have to finish the game.
"This is a tough challenge on the first game. I have a lot of respect for coach (Zimolzak). They came out and took it to us in the second half."
Running back Ben Ludlum led Jacobs with 13 carries for 98 yards.