Jacobs Rallies to Victory Over Huntley in Thrilling Match

In a gripping matchup on September 29, 2023, the Jacobs Golden Eagles secured a 35-27 victory against the Huntley Red Raiders in Fox Valley Conference action held in Algonquin. The Golden Eagles showcased their dominance on the ground, amassing a remarkable 335 yards rushing on 51 attempts, while executing critical plays at pivotal moments in the game.

The first half saw the Golden Eagles struggle against Huntley’s defense, which managed to halt them on two fourth downs. This allowed the Red Raiders to score 14 unanswered points in the second quarter, giving them their only lead of the match. However, the tide turned in the third quarter when Jacobs executed impressive fourth-down conversions, including a crucial fourth-and-2 and a fourth-and-14. This drive culminated in a 6-yard touchdown run by senior Caden DuMelle, breaking a 14-14 tie.

DuMelle’s performance was instrumental throughout the game. He recorded 27 carries for 157 yards and added another touchdown just two minutes into the fourth quarter, showcasing his speed with a spectacular 29-yard run. DuMelle, who has now become Jacobs’ all-time career rushing yardage leader, emphasized the importance of teamwork: “First of all, all the credit in the world to our offensive line. Those guys are awesome. They work their behinds off in practice each week to make nights like this happen.”

Jacobs also benefited from a stellar performance by teammate Michael Cannady, who rushed for 170 yards on 15 carries. Cannady’s early 51-yard sprint opened the scoring for Jacobs, setting the pace for the Golden Eagles’ offense.

Huntley’s offense relied heavily on sophomore running back Chase Hojnacki, who continued his impressive season with four rushing touchdowns of 2, 13, 11, and 4 yards. This brings Hojnacki’s total to 12 rushing touchdowns after just five weeks. Huntley coach Mike Naymola praised the young athlete, stating, “We’re real pleased with how hard he works and what a great person he is.”

Despite Hojnacki’s efforts, Huntley could not overcome Jacobs’ momentum. The Red Raiders managed to draw within eight points twice in the fourth quarter, but DuMelle sealed the victory with his third rushing touchdown, a 2-yard score, with just over three minutes remaining.

The game also featured a passing touchdown from Jacobs quarterback Austin Stennett, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 100 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown pass to Carson Goehring just before halftime.

Jacobs coach Brian Zimmerman reflected on his team’s performance, noting, “They’re always so well-coached over there. So we tried to impose our will and take advantage of some things from a schematics standpoint. Honestly, the kids just did a heck of a job.”

This victory is significant for Jacobs as they continue to strive for playoff eligibility, needing five wins to qualify. With upcoming matches against Crystal Lake Central, Dundee-Crown, Crystal Lake South, and Cary-Grove, the Golden Eagles are in a critical position.

Conversely, the Red Raiders face a challenging path ahead, including a matchup against Prairie Ridge next week, followed by games against Burlington Central, McHenry, and Hampshire. Coach Naymola acknowledged the competitive nature of the Fox Valley Conference: “Some years, you have a few teams that are real good, then there’s a big drop-off. That’s not the case as much this season. We’ve got some real battles ahead of us, so we’re gonna have to be at our absolute best the rest of the way.”

The excitement and intensity of the game underscored the depth and competitiveness of the conference, with both teams poised for crucial upcoming matches.