MACHESNEY PARK — Harlem’s potent offense — and the most prolific passer ever to wear a Huskie uniform — was too much for East on Friday as the hosts dominated the E-Rabs, 34-22.

The win, which had a blowout-feel after the Huskies opened up with a
27-0 lead, set up next week’s

Harlem (8-0) versus Boylan (8-0) showdown for this year’s NIC-10 championship. It also gave the Huskies a little more momentum, and a little more confidence, headed into the big finish.

“Knowing we have this many weapons really gives us an extra boost heading into the showdown with Boylan,” said quarterback Keenan Kellett, who threw for 217 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. “I don’t think anyone expected us to get here to this point at 8-0. We proved a lot of people wrong, and now next week is the week for the conference championship.”

Kellett became the first Huskie quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards in a season when he connected with Sterling Hecox for a 47-yard TD pass early in the second quarter. Tacked on to a game-opening 45-yard scoring pass to Tyler Cox and a 20-yard jump ball touchdown to 6-foot-7 Casey Beck, Kellett threw for 183 yards and three TDs in the first half alone.

Harlem jumped ahead 27-7 while holding the E-Rabs to just 84 total yards of offense and two first downs in the first two quarters. East (2-6) quarterback Michael Dye completed three straight passes on two separate second-half possessions, helping lead the E-Rabs on a three scoring drives, one late in the fourth quarter.

But Kellett added a 20-yard scoring throw to Cory Koelker in the second half and Harlem running back Miles Hembrough finished the game with 98 yards on just seven rushes as the Huskies kept their distance the entire way.

“We could have played better. I know we’re 8-0, but I’m not completely happy,” Harlem coach Jim Morrow said despite the Huskies best start ever. “We’ve kept it week-to-week, and there’s been no mention of Boylan. We knew it was coming, and now it’s here. We’ve worked hard to be in this position; now we hope it’ll all pay off.”

Harlem plays host to Boylan as the Huskies shoot for their third conference title in the big Week 9 matchup. Kellett heads into the game with 1,095 yards and 14 TDs.

— Jay Taft, rrstar.com