McHenry County notes: Woodstock North, Harvard have wild start in exciting game

Woodstock North and Harvard may have played the best game among the area teams Friday night, a 31-28 North victory at Harlem High School’s field.

It certainly had the most exciting start.

Harvard’s Austin Kohley ran back the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Fifteen seconds later, the Thunder’s Cole Brey returned the favor with a 64-yard kickoff return touchdown.

Twenty-seven seconds into the game, it was a 7-7 tie.

“It was very exciting and frustrating in a short period of time,” Harvard coach Sean Saylor said. “It was definitely a roller coaster of emotion.”

North fell behind, 21-7, in the second quarter, but closed the half with 17 points in the last 2:58, then scored another touchdown in the first minute of the third quarter.

Quarterback Jay Zinnen hit tight end Justin VanAcker for a 37-yard touchdown, Lucas Udelhofen kicked a 21-yard field goal with 17 seconds to go, and Zinnen then tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Justin Ortiz.

“It was crazy,” Thunder coach Jeff Schroeder said. “I have to give a lot of credit to the young-ins. They could’ve folded, but showed a lot of character and maturity. What a relief. I feel like the world was lifted from my shoulders.”

Still searching: Crystal Lake South coach Rob Fontana put a call out Friday on Twitter in hopes of finding a Week 3 opponent. South’s scheduled contest against Cary-Grove was canceled due to the C-G being quarantined under COVID-19 protocols.

“It’s tough (to find a game) this late,” Fontana said Friday night after his team’s 63-26 loss to Prairie Ridge. “The big problem is finding a team within the 30-mile radius. But we’re going to continue to practice and do what we do to help ourselves get better and if we find a game, then great. If not, we’ll move forward without (a game).”

Lineman’s dream: Prairie Ridge scored eight rather traditional touchdowns Friday night – seven rushing TDs and one passing. But it was the ninth and final score that capped a brilliant offensive night in unique fashion.

Junior running back Noah Solis took a handoff from the 11-yard line and bolted up the middle midway through the fourth quarter. The massive pile of humanity edged its way toward the goal line and eventually stopped moving. But when the whistle finally blew and the official’s hand went in the air – signaling touchdown – sophomore reserve lineman Henrik Nystrom held the ball above his head and celebrated his first-ever touchdown.

Solis came to the Wolves’ sideline and explained to an assistant coach, “I took the ball right down to the goal line and somebody punched the ball out.”

Nystrom capitalized on his opportunity by pouncing on the loose ball for the score and as he reached the sideline he drew praise from his head coach Chris Schremp.

“You,” Schremp said, “just became the envy of every Prairie Ridge lineman.”

Just glad to be here: While obviously pleased with his team’s victory, Schremp took a moment post-game to express his joy at the simple fact that football has made its way back into the high school landscape.

“The winning and losing, yes, that’s great, that’s what we play for. But tonight was just a lot of fun,” he said. “This is the kind of night that we’ve missed for so long. It’s great to see how excited they are just to be together.”

Great backup: Huntley does not have a controversy at running back where Alex Janke is the starter. Red Raiders coach Matt Zimolzak likes having his best athlete running the ball, even if Janke is pulling double duty as linebacker.

What the Raiders saw Friday, though, was that when Janke needs a break, the level of production remains at a high level. Junior Ryder Hunkins carried nine times for 157 yards and a touchdown. Janke had six carries for 134 and two scores as Huntley defeated Burlington Central, 35-0.

“Ryder Hunkins had a great game,” Zimolzak said. “I wish he was about two-tenths of a second faster, but, man, he’s a big guy and he’s hard to take down. He’s making a case for being No. 1.”

Hunkins will get some work and could be positioning himself for the running back spot in the fall season. Hunkins gave all the credit to Huntley’s offensive line.

“The blocking was insane tonight,” Hunkins said.

Five of Hunkins’ runs went for 15 yards or more. He had runs of 18, 20, 37 and 50 yards.

Battling hard: Burlington Central was down big in the fourth quarter against Huntley, but Rockets coach Brian Melvin did not back down. Twice, in the fourth quarter, Burlington went on fourth down deep in its own territory.

“What we’ve learned in the Fox Valley (Conference) is you have to be aggressive and you have to have a swagger,” said Melvin, whose team is in its second FVC season. “We’re trying to build that. As we get more success, with that comes a winning attitude. We’re trying to create that. It’s coming.”

• Sam Natrop contributed to this report.