Football: Week 4 MVPs
Daily Herald report
Here are the Daily Herald’s choices for Most Valuable Players of Week 4 of the high school football season.
Offensive MVP:Kyle Whitman, Grant #8212; The junior running back somehow had the stamina in the second half to play defense for the first time this season. He had exerted plenty of energy on offense, rushing 24 times for a school-record 303 yards in a 44-41 win over Wauconda. He scored on touchdown runs of 37, 51, 12 and 33 yards and also converted 4 conversion runs.
Offensive runners-up:Joel Bouagnon, Burlington Central #8212; This 6-foot-1, 205-pound running back helped the Rockets earn an impressive road victory against 2010 Class 3A state runner-up Stillman Valley by rushing for 147 yards on 23 carries. The junior gave Central the lead for good with his 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and his 22-yard touchdown in the second half put the game out of reach.
Ethan Olles, Palatine #8212; Palatine received plenty of #147;O#148; from Olles as the junior quarterback delivered in a 28-8 Mid-Suburban League victory over Prospect. Olles was 12-for-16 passing for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns and he was 4-for-4 on extra points.
Josh Williams, Downers Grove South #8212; Williams continued an incredible stretch of games by dominating in the Mustangs#146; 49-0 West Suburban Gold Conference win over Leyden. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior running back rushed for 283 yards on 16 carries in less than a half of action. Williams rushed for 6 touchdowns including three of more than 35 yards.
Matt Williams, Geneva #8212; Another very efficient game for the Northern Illinois-bound quarterback #8212; 9-of-15 passing for a season-high 221 yards, 3 touchdowns, 36 yards rushing. But Vikings coach Rob Wicinski said the 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior#146;s poise, leadership and decision-making in a 45-14 Upstate Eight River win over Elgin was his best all season.
Defensive MVP:Jon Gray, Batavia #8212; The 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior had his second multiple-interception game this season. Gray#146;s 3 interceptions, each deep in Batavia territory, helped lead the Bulldogs to a 35-13 victory over Upstate Eight Conference crossover foe Bartlett. On Gray#146;s second pickoff, he stepped in front of a slant pass and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown.
Defensive runners-up:Luka Bogicevic, Larkin #8212; Normally a cornerback, this 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior made the play of the game when he blocked St. Charles East#146;s potential game-winning field goal with time winding down in the fourth quarter. The ball was scooped up by teammate Shaquille Mosley and returned 83 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left, giving Larkin a 26-20 victory. Bogicevic also snagged an interception, broke up a pass and made 6 tackles.
Hugh Griffin, Waubonsie Valley #8212; A Week 3 injury replacement, the sophomore linebacker#146;s second start impacted Waubonsie#146;s 54-7 Upstate Eight Conference River Division win over Lake Park. Griffin returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown and later returned an interception 30 yards to set up a score. Griffin added 4 tackles, another pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
Matt Morrissey, Stevenson #8212; Another Morrissey has meant more defense for the Patriots. The brother of former Stevenson star linebacker Mike Morrissey, the sophomore free safety notched his first 2 varsity interceptions in a 24-21, double-overtime win at Warren. Morrissey finished with 13 tackles (9 solos) and also caught a touchdown pass in OT.
Gino Prestia, Conant #8212; Prestia was one of many Conant defenders putting pressure on Hersey. The senior linebacker#146;s 10 tackles included 3 quarterback sacks and 4 stops for losses as the Cougars improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2003 with an 18-7 victory.