Knights will be interesting test as Harlem opens 2023 season in Rockford

By Alex Gary

Reporter

The first game of any football season – especially when you don’t have preseason games to scout – can be a little tricky.
The Rockford Register Star has been running a series of “players to watch” at every position group. According to coaches, when Harlem opens the season against Auburn on Friday at 7:15 p.m., these are the players the Huskies will have to game-plan for.
Running back – Patrick DuBose. DuBose is a 5-9, 230-pound bowling ball who gained 607 yards on 6.6 yards per carry as a junior.
Wide receiver – Leonard Spates. Spates averaged 19.3 yards per catch with 330 yards receiving and four touchdown catches. At 5-11, he also can outjump larger players.
Linebacker – Jasper Jenkins. Jenkins is a 5-10, 220-pound senior who led the Knights in tackles as a defensive end. Auburn has moved him to linebacker so he can make an impact all over the field.
The Knights went 3-6 in their first season under former East wide receiving star Willie Tolon. Auburn should be more comfortable with Tolon’s system in year two. Harlem played Auburn in Machesney Park to open the 2022 season and only won by a 21-12 score. Still, depth is an issue. Auburn suited up just 31 players for its Red and Black game this past Friday. DuBose, Spates and Jenkins all play both ways.
Harlem definitely will be deeper, at least on paper. In those same stories, Harlem had five players mentioned – Jahmani Muhammad, running back; Jordan Vyborny, wide receiver; Ayden Goodwin, offensive line; Isaac Johnson, defensive line; and Tim Wessels, linebacker. The Huskies are coming off an 8-4 season that saw the team win two IHSA playoff games for the first time in school history.
Harlem has beaten Auburn five straight years. In fact, the Knights haven’t beaten the Huskies since coach Dan Appino, who coached Boylan to two state championships and then turned Auburn into a NIC-10 championship program, retired after the 2017 season.