SCOTT MORGAN | RRSTAR.COM

Harlem High School's Tyler Cox (2) runs through Woodstock defenders in the second quarter Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, during their game in the IHSA playoffs at Harlem in Machesney Park.

MACHESNEY PARK — Harlem likes to start out east or west, then break its runs north.

Boylan keeps it simpler.

“I never try to go east and west. Always north,” Boylan fullback Matt McCrudden said.

Simpler proved better on a muddy field as Boylan steamrolled Harlem 40-14 Friday night in a battle of NIC-10 unbeatens to win its third consecutive conference title.

Harlem (8-1) had trouble with the slick field all night.

“It was highly impossible,” tight end Casey Beck said. “Every time I tried to make a cut, I’d slip.”

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.

FREEPORT – One Huskie batted at the ball. Then a second Huskie. And Wes Gastel still caught it for his fourth touchdown reception.

“I got my hand on it,” Harlem safety Sterling Hecox said. “Tyler Cox got his hand on it. And he still came down with the ball.
“He’s a great receiver, but we played better than them as a team.”

Harlem and Freeport traded one big play after another, but only the Huskies could make the little plays in Friday’s 42-30 NIC-10 victory over the Pretzels.

PHOTO BY CHRIS ANDERSON

Harlem's Tyler Cox pulls in his second touchdown pass of the night, a 68-yard bomb from Keenan Kellett, as the Huskies went to 5-0 with a 24-14 win over the Vikings on Oct. 3, 2008.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CHRIS ANDERSON

Harlem's Tyler Cox pulls in his second touchdown pass of the night, a 68-yard bomb from Keenan Kellett, which put the game out of reach as the Huskies went to 5-0 with a 24-14 win over the Vikings on October 3, 2008.

PHOTO BY CHRIS ANDERSON

Harlem wide receiver Tyler Cox.

SCOTT MORGAN | RRSTAR.COM

Hononegah High School's Brett McWilliams (33) outruns Harlem's Tyler Cox (2, left) and Jeremy Williams (5) on a touchdown run in the second quarter Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, during their game at Hononegah in Rockton.

ROCKTON — Meet the PlayStation Huskies.

Whenever Hononegah would score Friday, Harlem would score even faster. Sometimes ridiculously fast. And the Huskies never seemed to stop, scoring touchdowns on seven consecutive drives in a 48-28 NIC-10 drubbing of previously unbeaten Hononegah.

“We made a big statement to the NIC-10: We’re coming for everyone,” said fullback Andy Kennington, who ran for 112 yards on 12 carries.

ROCKFORD — Antwan Teal’s long kickoff returns helped Auburn start it’s first four drives in Harlem territory. The Knights, though, went backward on two of those possessions in Friday’s 40-14 NIC-10 football loss.

“When you don’t capitalize against a good team like this, it comes back and burns you,” Auburn coach Billy Cook said.