Football: Week 5 MVPs

Daily Herald report

Here are the Daily Herald’s choices for Most Valuable Players of Week 5 of the high school football season.

Offensive MVP:Brian Owens, Hinsdale Central #8212; The Red Devils#146; quarterback put in a record-breaking performance while helping Hinsdale Central to a 33-10 West Suburban Silver Conference victory over Lyons Twp. Owens, a 6-foot-2, 168-pound junior, set program records for completions and attempts with a 33-of-39 effort for 315 yards and a 25-yard touchdown.

Offensive runners-up:Sean Carter, Kaneland #8212; The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder#146;s play on both sides of the ball aided Kaneland#146;s 35-14 Northern Illinois Big 12 East win over Rochelle. At receiver the senior caught 5 passes for 100 yards with 12- and 22-yard touchdown receptions. Playing linebacker for the first time this season Carter made 8 tackles, a sack and forced a fumble.

AJ Fish, Grayslake North #8212; This Fish story is no exaggeration. The junior quarterback had a whopper of a homecoming night against Hampshire, throwing for school-record totals of 419 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also rushing for 86 yards and 2 scores. He completed 23 of 30 passes, as the Knights won 49-22.

Maurece Jackson, Larkin #8212; This 5-foot-7, 175-pound running back was a workhorse throughout Larkin#146;s 22-21 victory over rival Elgin. The junior carried the ball 34 times for 143 yards and rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 6 yards.

A.J. McGhee, Fremd #8212; The Fremd running game has been Grade A quality lately thanks to McGhee. The senior rushed for a career-high 144 yards on 35 carries and a touchdown as the Vikings opened defense of their eight straight Mid-Suburban West titles by handing Conant its first loss 24-20.

Defensive MVP:Nick Caruso, Geneva #8212; The man in the middle of the Vikings#146; defense got it done once again in a 54-7 Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory over St. Charles North. Caruso, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior linebacker, clinched the win with a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown. He added 6 tackles and registered a quarterback sack.

Defensive runners-up:Kyle Garcia, Bartlett #8212; A 5-foot-11, 165-pound defensive back, Garcia led the Bartlett defense to its second shutout of the season. The junior was responsible for 2 of Bartlett#146;s 4 interceptions on a night when the Hawks forced 6 turnovers in a 42-0 victory over Lake Park.

Mike Imperiale, Addison Trail #8212; Imperiale, a converted defensive lineman playing linebacker this season, let nothing past him as Addison Trail blanked Morton 35-0 in their West Suburban Gold Conference matchup. The 6-2, 210-pound senior led the Blazers to their third shutout by notching a team-high 17 tackles and tipping a punt.

Stefan Skoneczka, Elk Grove #8212; Elk Grove needed players to step up after a rash of injuries and Skoneczka was one of them in a 17-10 Mid-Suburban East win at Buffalo Grove. The senior rushed for 129 yards on 29 carries and at linebacker was instrumental to a defense allowing only 85 in a scoreless second half.

Stephen Smith, Antioch #8212; Called by Sequoits coach Brian Glashagel one of the best defensive players he#146;s ever coached, the senior strong safety played like it against Wauconda. Smith had an interception, fumble recovery, 2 pass break-ups and 8 tackles, as Antioch remained undefeated with a 28-12 win.