MACHESNEY PARK - The Bucs hung around until midway through the second quarter Friday night, but Harlem went on a roll late in the first half and barreled over Belvidere the rest of the way, strolling to a 36-13 win.

Harlem wingback Keith Purifoy rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown while averaging 16.5 yards per carry, and quarterback Keenan Kellett completed only two passes, but they went for 47 yards with a TD to tightend Casey Beck.

However, Harlem also had three other 50-plus-yard touchdowns and a long run to the Bucs 2-yard-line called back on a night when they were whistled for 10 penalties for 90 yards. The postgame speech by Huskie head coach Jim Morrow sounded more like that of a coach who lost 36-13, and fell to 0-2, than the other way around.

“I could see it in his eyes; he wasn’t happy,” Purifoy, a 5-foot-6, 140-pound sophomore, said. “But he had every right to be mad. This was not nearly as good as we can play.

“We did get the win, though. Any way you can get a win is a good way.”

An interception by Alex Schanna and a 56-yard return set up a Belvidere touchdown that tied it at 7-all midway through the second quarter.

Purifoy rumbled 54 yards for a touchdown on a reverse a little more than two minutes later, and the Huskies never looked back.

Harlem led 29-7 at halftime and despite long TDs called back for holding on consecutive second-half possessions, the Huskies never let the Bucs back into it.

“We got on a roll there in the second quarter, and the kids responded,” Morrow said after his team rose to 2-0. “But this was inexcusable. We hold ourselves to a higher standard here. It’s nothing against Belvidere – I have a lot of respect for them and their program. But I know what my guys are capable of, and it’s a lot more than that.”

Harlem outgained Belvidere 345-200 in total yards, despite a 77-yard rushing effort by Buc running back Matt Safranek and six different receivers making grabs. Five different Harlem players scored.

- Jay Taft, rrstar.com