Oct. 03--Anthony Binetti, redemption is yours.
Shaking off what may have been his worst three quarters of high-school football, Huntley's senior quarterback led a 13-play, 65-yard scoring drive to put his team ahead by two scores.
Binetti capped the possession with a 6-yard keeper to help the No. 19 Red Raiders stay unbeaten and atop the Fox Valley Valley Friday night with a 22-19 win over previously unbeaten Jacobs in Huntley.
Before his heroics, Binetti threw five interceptions, two of which resulted in Jacobs touchdowns.
"I love my offensive linemen, they never lost courage in me," Binetti said. "And our defense stepped up and played a great game. The team picked me up tonight. You've got to go out there and make plays and know you're going to bounce back and get the job done."
Binetti's scoring drive staked Huntley, which led the entire contest, to a 22-12 lead with 4 minutes, 45 seconds remaining (6-0, 2-0). The Golden Eagles (5-1, 1-1) pulled to within three points on Matthew Barnes' 64-yard touchdown run with 3:55 to play.
The outcome was in doubt until the final seconds, when Huntley's Sean Patel knocked down Jacobs quarterback Chris Katrenick's 30-yard lob at the goal line.
"It was a great game with two great teams," said Barnes, who rushed for 71 yards for Jacobs. "We had some good plays and some bad plays. In the end it's our first loss, to a great team."
Aided by Binetti's interceptions, Jacobs drove deep in Huntley territory four times in the first half, but scored only once. The Red Raiders' Tim Ryan blocked a 40-yard field goal to thwart one early drive. Casey Haayer's 1-yard touchdown eight plays later put Huntley ahead 8-0.
Jacobs finally broke through with 42 seconds late in the first half, when Katrenick found Nathan Meland for a 27-yard TD pass to pull the Eagles within 8-6.
The Red Raiders scored on their first drive of the second half, with Eric Mooney's 5-yard TD run giving his team a 15-6 lead. Jacobs pulled within 15-12 when Sean Barnes returned an interception 56 yards for a score.
"Sometimes you've got to find a way to win," Huntley coach John Hart said. "They outplayed us. But I'm really proud of Anthony. To bounce back after having as bad a game as he had. He'll live another day. And he'll win us some games like he did tonight."
Phil English is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Casey Haayer, Huntley, 5 carries, 151 yards, TD.
Key performers: Huntley -- Tyler Larson, 2 sacks; Anthony Binetti, 12 carries, 58 yards, TD. Jacobs -- Chris Katrenick, 16-for-52 passing, 151 yards, TD.
