By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

MACHESNEY PARK – Two Harlem extra-point miscues proved costly as the Huskies fell to the Boylan Titans 24-21 here Friday.

The homecoming contest was a physical battle from the opening kickoff. Boylan lit the scoreboard first, capitalizing on a James Cooper pass that went off the outstretched hands of tight end Dominic McCarren into the arms of Boylan’s Caleb Badgley, who returned it to the Harlem 2-yard line. Boylan took a 7-0 lead on the ensuing play.

Harlem was kept in check by a strong Titan front for most of the first quarter until Cooper connected with McCarren again to move the ball into Boylan territory. Harlem found paydirt twice after that but botched two extra points and failed on a two-point conversion.

The Huskies led 18-7 at the half. They took a safety in the third quarter but managed to hold on to a narrow lead into the final minutes of the game. That’s when Boylan’s Caleb Henderson went to work, scoring on runs of 31 yards and 60 yards, the latter a reverse designed to go the other way.

Cooper finished with 265 yards and three touchdowns for Harlem. The Huskies fell to 4-1. Boylan improved to 4-1. Hononegah, which clipped Boylan 17-6 last week, is now in sole possession of first place in the NIC-10 standings. Harlem faces the Indians in Week 9.

Friday Scores

Auburn 41, Belvidere 21
East 36, Guilford 31
Freeport 23, Jefferson 16
Hononegah 30, Belvidere North 14
Boylan 24, Harlem 21
Byron 62, North Boone 21
Winnebago 51, Rock Falls 37
Stillman Valley 29, Oregon 7
Dixon 36, Mendota 7
Genoa-Kingston 21, Lutheran 6
Forreston 62, Aquin 33
Dakota 36, Du-Pec 0
EPC 20, Lena-Winslow 14
Stockton 22, River Ridge 14
South Beloit 26, AFC 14
Harvard 13, Rockford Christian 12
Hiawatha 48, Mooseheart 15
Rochelle 55, LaSalle-Peru 33
Sterling 43, Geneseo 7
Kaneland 21, DeKalb 20
Sycamore 28, Yorkville 27 OT
Alden-Hebron 32, Christian Life 26
Sterling Newman 42, Rockridge 0
Polo 28, Warren 14