The pounding of the bass drums was heard in the distance as the Marching Red Raiders entered the stadium. Filing onto the track, they began playing the National Anthem and then the school fight song. With raider nation chanting, senior Donnie Young started the game with a kick-off that brought Hampshire to the 30 yard line.
The final score of the game was Red Raiders 56 Hampshire 16, a very satisfying win for Huntley, bringing their record to 4-0. Huntley’s offense fired on all cylinders, as junior Anthony Binetti threw for 319 yards passing and three touchdowns.
The Red Raiders started the game off strong, as Binetti found senior Brandon Altergott for a 62 yard touchdown.
On Huntley’s next possession, Binetti threw his first interception of the year but he bounced back well finding Josh Esekiel for a 17 yard touchdown. The first quarter ended with the score of 14-0.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Hampshire kicked a field goal bringing the score to 14-3. Huntley responded with a 11 yard touchdown from Binetti to senior Kyle Kesul. Soon after Hampshire scored with a 30 yard touchdown of their own making the score 21-9.
After a two yard touchdown run by Huntley senior fullback Jake Witt, Hampshire scored another touchdown making the score 28-15, the last touchdown Hampshire would score.
Halftime began with the announcing of the Homecoming Court. A new tradition this year was to crown king and queen at the football game, seniors Delaney Lyman and Chase Burkart were crowned by 2014 graduates Courtney Kampert and Zach Gorney.
On Hampshire’s first possession of the second half, Senior Connor Boos intercepted a pass and ran it back 52 yards for a touchdown, making the score 35-15. It was Boos’ first interception of his career and Huntley coach John Hart said “That [Interception] was great. It was his first one and for him to do it on Homecoming was terrific.”
Huntley had the momentum for the rest of the third quarter, with the score at the end of the third 42-15.
The fourth quarter was played with a running clock and was more of the same as Huntey rested their starters. The game ended 56-15, with a Homecoming game victory for Huntley.
Even with a victory that large, Huntley still has things they can work on according to Hart “I think when we execute we are terrific. I think we do that very well. But the problem is that we make to many little mistakes.”