Huskies to be tested early in Morrow’s second act

Harlem will have a tough opening and ending stretch in Jim Morrow’s first season of his second tenure as football coach.

The IHSA released the football schedules this week. The Huskies open the season on the road at Belvidere on August 30, which hasn’t won as many as four games in a season since 2016.

Harlem then has home games in weeks two and three against Auburn and Hononegah. The Knights went 5-5 last year, but Auburn still decided to make a coaching change. Former Michigan State running back Leroy McFadden is taking over the program.

The week three game against Hononegah will be Harlem’s chance to bring a rivalry back into equilibrium. The Huskies haven’t beaten Hononegah since 2020. Last year, the Indians beat the Huskies, 42-7.

After Hononegah, Harlem plays Jefferson, Guilford, Freeport and East. Those four schools went 9-27 last year.

Harlem then finishes with a road game at Boylan and a home game with Belvidere North. Both the Titans and Blue Thunder advanced to the IHSA quarterfinals in 2023.

Morrow coached the Huskies for 15 seasons, from 2004 to 2018, compiling a 101-51 record along with 13 playoff appearances. Morrow stepped down from the program in 2019 but continued to coach at Belvidere and South Beloit.

Aug. 30           7:15      A         Belvidere (H.S.)   1-8        1241.00

Sept. 6 7:15      H         Rockford (Auburn)          5-5        1816.00

Sept. 13           7:15      H         Rockton (Hononegah)      10-1      1911.00

Sept. 20           7:15      A         Rockford (Jefferson)         0-9        1887.50

Sept. 27           7:15      A         Rockford (Guilford)          3-6        1843.00

Oct. 4 7:15      H         Freeport (H.S.)                2-7        1028.50

Oct. 11           7:15      A         Rockford (East)               4-5        1559.50

Oct. 18           7:43      A         Rockford (Boylan)            9-3        673.50

Oct. 25           7:15      H         Belvidere (North) 9-3        1404.50

Belvidere hasn’t won as many as four games since 2016.

Auburn was 5-5 under Willie Tolon and made the playoffs in his second season. Still, Auburn replaced him with Leroy McFadden.

Hononegah has won the NIC-10 four times in the past six full seasons under Brian Zimmerman. The rivalry with Harlem has faded. The Indians have beaten Harlem ….. times.

2023 – 42-7

2022 – 38-28

2021 – 14-6

2020 – (Harlem wins 26-24)

Guilford slipped to 3-6 in Tony Capriotti’s third year. He is 12-16 overall and had the Vikings 7-3 in 2022.

East was 4-5 last year in Gary Griffin’s 10th season. The E-Rabs last made the playoffs in 2022.

Boylan is entering its 13th season under John Cacciatore. The Titans have won 9 games and made it to the IHSA quarterfinals the past two seasons.

North under Jeff Beck has made the playoffs six straight years minus COVID and won at least six games. Last year, they won a school record 9.