State runners-up Batavia and Geneva lead way with selections after stunning seasons that concluded at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
First Team Offense
Isaiah Brown, Batavia, senior, wide receiver/punter: Caught 65 passes for 971 yards and 13 touchdowns. Threw two TD passes on gadget plays. Put seven punts out of bounds inside 20. All-conference.
Tony Chahino, Geneva, senior, quarterback: Completed 63% of passes (184 of 291) for 3,600 yards and 49 TDs. Threw only eight interceptions. All-conference.
Zach Hultgren, Burlington Central, junior, offensive line: Blocking anchor for Rockets’ first team to win playoff game in 18 years. All-conference.
Cooper Kowalczyk, St. Charles North, junior, offensive line: Two-year starter had 34 pancake blocks, graded at 93%. All-conference.
Dyllan Malone, Yorkville, senior, wide receiver: Caught 31 passes for 475 yards and five TDs. Had two interceptions. All-conference. Committed to Iowa State.
Ben McCollum, Oswego, senior, offensive line: Big-time blocker for Southwest Prairie West champs. All-conference.
Ryan Myers, Batavia, junior, offensive line: Key blocker for balanced offense that passed for 2,617 yards and ran for 2,637. All-conference.
Joe Pettit, Geneva, senior, offensive line: Three-year starter. Leader of strong unit for Class 6A runner-up. Added 28 tackles on defense. All-state. Conference’s outstanding offensive lineman.
Ethan Plumb, St. Charles North, senior, quarterback: Four-year starter completed 66% of passes (200 of 312) for 2,513 yards and 28 TDs. All-state. All-conference.
Keaton Reinke, St. Charles North, junior, wide receiver: Caught 80 passes for 1,218 yards and 17 TDs. Honorable mention all-state. All-conference.
Talyn Taylor, Geneva, senior, wide receiver: Caught 84 passes for 1,617 yards and 24 TDs. Returned two kicks for TDs. All-state. All-conference. Committed to Georgia.
Nathan Whitwell, Batavia, senior, running back: Ran 303 times for area-best 1,736 yards and 28 TDs. Caught five passes for 53 yards. All-conference.
First Team Defense
Xavier Blanquel, Batavia, senior, defensive line: Had 63 tackles, 17.5 for loss, with 9.5 sacks. Honorable mention all-state. Conference’s defensive lineman of the year.
Mikey Claycombe, Oswego, senior, linebacker: Had 99 tackles, 13 for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles. All-conference.
Carson Cooney, Oswego, senior, linebacker: Had 57 tackles, seven for loss, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery. All-state. All-conference. Committed to Iowa.
Temilade Dada, West Aurora, senior, defensive line: Had 43 tackles, six sacks, one fumble recovery. All-conference.
Luke Gormsen, Jacbos, senior, athlete: Had 80 tackles, two for loss, seven pass breakups, one interception at safety. Caught 48 passes for 350 yards and four TDs. All-state. All-conference.
Bryce Griffin, Yorkville, senior, defensive line: Had 53 tackles, 19 for loss, four sacks. All-conference. Committed to Kent State.
Sean Lane, Geneva, senior, linebacker: Had 93 tackles, seven for loss, one sack, one blocked field goal. All-conference.
Aidan McClure, St. Charles North, junior, linebacker: Had 84 tackles, 14 for loss, four interceptions with two returned for TDs, three punts blocked. All-conference.
Chase Osborne, Batavia, senior, defensive back: Had area-best 145 tackles, 16 for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions. All-state. Conference’s defensive player of year.
Andrew Pohlman, Oswego East, senior, defensive back: Had 71 tackles, 3.5 for loss, one sack, four interceptions, three forced fumbles. Caught 20 passes for 364 yards and two TDs. Had 20 punt returns for 242 yards. Honorable mention all-state. All-conference.
Bryan Scales, Marmion, senior, defensive back: Had 51 tackles, five interceptions with one returned for TD, one punt returned for TD. Had 1,114 all-purpose yards. Conference MVP.
Dane Turner, Geneva, junior, defensive back: Had 71 tackles, two for loss, five interceptions. All-conference.
Second Team Offense
Jackson Alcorn, Burlington Central, senior, quarterback: Completed 64% of passes (148 of 230) for 2,513 yards and 28 TDs with only one interception. Ran for 307 yards, four TDs. All-state. Conference’s offensive player of year.
Mason Atkins, West Aurora, junior, quarterback: Completed 71% of passes (123 of 172) for 1,667 yards, 32 TDs, zero interceptions. Ran for 214 yards and seven TDs. All-conference.
Sam Bruno, Kaneland, senior, kicker: Went 29-for-29 on extra-point kicks, 12-for-16 on field goals for 65 points. Had touchbacks on 85% of kickoffs (39 of 46).
Francesco Cicero, West Aurora, senior, offensive line: Led unit that paved way for 2,084 yards rushing. All-conference.
Vince DeLordo, Jacobs, senior, offensive line: Helped offense pile up 2,657 yards rushing. Added 25 tackles, two sacks on defense. All-conference.
Tate Frieders, Sandwich, senior, offensive line: Two-way starter made 43 tackles. Honorable mention all-state. Conference’s lineman of the year.
Jonan Miceli, Aurora Christian, senior, wide receiver: Caught 85 passes for 1,175 yards and 11 TDs. Made 26 tackles, two pass breakups, one forced fumble. All-state. Conference MVP.
Chrisjan Simmons, Waubonsie Valley, senior, running back: Had 144 carries for 1,006 yards, 15 TDs. Caught 12 passes for 145 yards, two TDs. All-conference.
Terrence Smith, West Aurora, senior, wide receiver: Caught 28 passes for 331 yards, eight TDs. All-state. All-conference. Committed to Iowa.
Michael Vander Luitgaren, Batavia, sophomore, quarterback: Completed 63% of passes (73 of 115) for 1,154 yards and 13 TDs in strong playoff run after late promotion. Passed for 390 yards, a Class 7A title game record.
Finnegan Weppner, Geneva, senior, wide receiver: Caught 47 passes for 1,037 yards, 15 TDs. All-conference.
Second Team Defense
JT Anderson, Aurora Christian, senior, linebacker: Had 107 tackles, nine for loss. Honorable mention all-state. All-conference.
David Avitia, Geneva, junior, defensive line: Made 51 tackles, five for loss. All-conference.
Jeremiah Cain, Oswego, senior, defensive back: Tallied 19 tackles, one sack, four interceptions, three passes deflected, three forced fumbles. Caught 18 passes for 382 yards, five TDs. All-conference. Committed to Northern Iowa.
Jake Feller, Batavia, senior, linebacker: Had 63 tackles, 12.5 for loss, five sacks, one interception. All-conference.
LJ Kerr, Burlington Central, senior, defensive back: Totaled 49 tackles, two interceptions, four passes deflected. Two-way starter had 41 receptions, 742 yards, nine TDs. Honorable mention all-state. All-conference.
Zach Morrisroe, Oswego East, senior, defensive line: Had 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks. Made 16 pancake blocks on offense. All-conference. Committed to Northern Illinois.
Michael Roche, Marmion, senior, linebacker: Had 101 tackles, two sacks, one interception return for TD. Conference defensive MVP.
Malachi Smith, Batavia, senior, defensive line: Had 35 tackles, 13 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 26 hurries, two forced fumbles, one blocked field goal. All-conference.
Azuriah Sylvester, West Aurora, senior, athlete: Had 53 tackles, one interception, two fumble recoveries. Had 49 carries for 480 yards, four TDs. Caught 11 passes for 168 yards, four TDs. All-conference.
Troy Velez, Geneva, senior, linebacker: Had 82 tackles, 15 for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble. All-conference.
Nick Weisse, West Aurora, senior, defensive back: Had 36 tackles, four interceptions. Added five returns for TDs, three on interceptions, one on kickoff, one on punt. All-conference.
Luke Zook, Yorkville, senior, defensive back: Had 50 tackles, seven for loss, one interception, two fumble recoveries. Had 48 carries for 350 yards, four TDs. All-conference. Committed to Lindenwood.
Honorable Mention
- Brett Berggren, Batavia, junior, wide receiver.
- Grant Bohr, Aurora Central Catholic, junior, athlete.
- Jake Buckley, Kaneland, junior, defensive line.
- Robert Capuzi, Elgin, senior, offensive line.
- Caden DuMelle, Jacobs, junior, running back.
- Daniel Escaro, St. Charles North, junior, defensive back.
- Carter Grabowski, Kaneland, junior, running back.
- Nigel Grisby, Oswego East, senior, defensive back.
- Joell Holloman, St. Charles North, senior, running back.
- Asa Johnson, Aurora Christian, junior, quarterback.
- Jamarion Kenniel, Yorkville, senior, defensive line.
- Bennett Konkey, Geneva, sophomore, wide receiver.
- Dylan Liner, Metea Valley, junior, wide receiver.
- Nick Michalek, Sandwich, junior, running back.
- McKade Naus, Burlington Central, senior, linebacker.
- Raul Navejar, East Aurora, senior, offensive line.
- Gavin Pecor, Batavia, junior, defensive line.
- Casey Roney, West Aurora, senior, kicker.
- Michael Rumoro, Geneva, senior, running back.
- Matthew Scardina, Jacobs, senior, linebacker.
- Christian Taylor, Oswego, senior, defensive line.
- Darrion Thurman, South Elgin, junior, running back.
- Ayden Villa, Oswego, senior, running back.
- Jace Wolf, Streamwood, senior, running back.
