By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

BELVIDERE – Quarterback James Cooper Jr. passed for 231 yards to power the Harlem Huskies past the Belvidere North Blue Thunder 33-15 in NIC-10 Conference football action here Friday.

The Blue Thunder struck first, jumping out to a 7-0 lead on their first drive. The Harlem defense gave North nothing after that, forcing four punts. The Belvidere North defense was just a strong, stuffing the Harlem run and keeping Cooper and his talented group of receivers quiet for the first two stanzas. Harlem would get on the board, however, when Jalon Benson fielded a North punt and rambled 67-yards for a touchdown to make it 7-7 at halftime.

It was the Cooper show after the break. The sophomore threw for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the second half as Harlem improved to 5-1. Belvidere North fell to 3-3.

In other NIC-10 games, Hononegah remained unbeaten with a 47-7 win over Belvidere. Guilford fell to Boylan 47-6, East squeaked by Freeport 30-27 and Auburn handled Jefferson 49-12.

Friday Scores

Hononegah 47 Belvidere 7
Harlem 33 Belvidere North 15
Boylan 47 Guilford 6
East 30 Freeport 27
Auburn 49 Jefferson 12
North Boone 35 Stillman Valley 34 2OT
Genoa-Kingston 42 Winnebago 12
Dixon 38 Lutheran 28
Oregon 43 Rock Falls 12
Byron 57 Mendota 0
Lena-Winslow 72 Amboy 31
EPC 34 Galena 7
Dakota 34 West Carroll 12
Forreston 44 East Dubuque 12
Stockton 52 AFC 0
River Ridge 6 Polo 0
Milledgeville 46 Warren 0
Rockford Christian 47 Mooseheart 7
Dekalb 34 Morris 21
Kaneland 28 Sycamore 7
Yorkville 41 Rochelle 7
Sterling 42 Ottawa 0
Hiawatha 56 South Beloit 6
Harvard 21 Woodstock 14
Marengo 29 Woodstock N. 22
Newman 75 Bureau Valley 14