Football: Week 3 MVPs
St. Charles East senior fullback Joe Hoscheit and Willowbrook junior defensive back Hayden Adams have been selected MVPs by the Daily Herald for their peformances in Week 3 of the high school football season.
Hoscheit scored twice, including a 56-yard run with 1:19 left to pace the Saints to victory against St. Charles East, while Adams had 3 interception and 8 pass breakups to help the Warriors defeat York for the first time since 2003.
OFFENSIVE MVP
Joe Hoscheit, St. Charles East: The 6-foot, 215-pound fullback paced the Saints’ 23-13 Upstate Eight River victory over rival St. Charles North. In addition to his usual linebacker duties, the senior captain ran for 2 touchdowns, converted a first down running and another passing out of fake punts, and clinched the win on a tackle-breaking 56-yard touchdown catch with 1:19 left.
OFFENSIVE RUNNERS-UP
Ian Bunting, Hinsdale Central: Helping the Red Devils to their first 3-0 start since 2006, Bunting had a field day catching the ball in a 34-25 West Suburban Silver win over previously unbeaten Proviso West. The 6-foot-6, 196-pound junior receiver snagged 7 catches for 213 yards — an average of 30 yards a catch — and 2 scores.
Pat Kuefner, Hampshire: This 5-foot-10, 160-pound running back touched the ball only 5 times, but he maximized his opportunities in a 46-20 victory against Grayslake Central. The senior made 2 catches for 142 yards, including touchdown receptions of 58 and 75 yards. Kuefner also finished with 3 carries for 83 yards, highlighted by a 63-yard scoring jaunt.
Tim Manczko, Conant:The two-way player did it all in Conant’s 41-34 triumph over Rolling Meadows. Manczko caught 9 passes for 146 yards and ran for 34 yards while scoring 4 touchdowns. The senior also made the biggest play of the game on the other side of the ball as his fourth-quarter interception thwarted a game-tying drive.
Jonathan Wells, Grant: All’s well that ends (with) Wells. The junior running back’s fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 49 and 20 yards helped the Bulldogs stave off Wauconda 46-39. Wells, whose 36-yard TD sprint started the scoring for Grant, finished with 191 rushing yards on 22 carries.
DEFENSIVE MVP
Hayden Adams, Willowbrook: Beating York for the first time since 2003 took a stellar defensive effort from Willowbrook led by Adams. The Warriors’ 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior cornerback had 3 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and 8 tackles in a 28-23 victory over the Dukes. Adams also caught 5 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE RUNNERS-UP
Colin Castagna, Barrington: Slowing down the Prospect offense had been a difficult task in the early part of the season but behind Castagna’s effort, the Knights managed only a fourth-quarter touchdown in Barrington’s 42-6 win. The junior linebacker registered 7 tackles, 4 sacks, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Anthony Cloe, Antioch: The junior’s special game started with a special-teams play, as his 80-yard kickoff return midway through the opening quarter led to the Sequoits’ first touchdown. Later, the strong safety recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass, as the Sequoits defeated Vernon Hills 22-10.
Damario Hughes, Huntley: This Huntley safety was instrumental in the Red Raiders’ 30-7 road victory over defending Class 6A champion Prairie Ridge, which had scored 100 points in its first two games. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior not only forced 2 fumbles, he combined with teammate Mike Andrews to stop the Wolves on fourth-and-inches at the Huntley 18-yard line in the first quarter. Hughes finished with 7 tackles.
Gary Koehring, Kaneland: A 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior linebacker and a two-year starter, Koehring owned the field yet again in a 42-0 win over Northern Illinois Big 12 crossover foe Sterling. Facing an unbeaten team ranked sixth in Class 5A, Koehring made 10 tackles — including 4 for lost yardage and a sack — while helping limit Sterling to 78 yards of offense.