Football MVPs, Week 5
Senior fullback Kyle Norberg of Cary-Grove and senior linebacker Ivan Nevarez of Leyden have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for their performances in Week 5 of the high school football season.
Norberg rumbled for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-14 victory over Jacobs, while Nevarez had 4 sacks and returned a fumble for a score in the Eagles’ key win at Hinsdale South.
OFFENSIVE MVP
Kyle Norberg, Cary-Grove: How’s this for setting a tone? Norberg, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound fullback, broke free for a 63-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the game against Jacobs. He topped that on his second attempt, a 74-yard scoring burst. The senior, who doubles as a third-year linebacker, rushed for career highs of 275 yards and 3 touchdowns on 13 carries in Cary-Grove’s 45-14 victory to help the state-ranked Trojans improve to 5-0.
OFFENSIVE RUNNERS-UP
Joel Bouagnon, Aurora Christian: As he said after a 41-14 win over St. Francis, Bouagnon finally got to run the rock. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder carried 17 times for 207 yards, among the top five ground games in Aurora Christian history. The Northern Illinois-bound senior ran for touchdowns of 21 and 34 yards. At linebacker he made a team-high 14 tackles and scored on a fumble return.
John Gemmel, Wheaton Academy: The tough junior back’s amazing effort earned a 56-52 Suburban Christian Gold Division win over Walther Lutheran. With the Warriors trailing 52-26 with 5:38 left in the third, Gemmel ran for 4 touchdowns and three 2-point conversions. On the day he carried 32 times for a school-record 291 yards with 6 touchdowns, of 8, 15, 32, 2, 1 and 14 yards.
Jeff McGlade, Fremd: McGlade had no problem with an increased workload as he pounded his way to 162 yards on 28 carries in Fremd’s 24-7 win over Barrington. The junior running back scored the Vikings’ first 2 touchdowns, including a 55-yard gallop in the first quarter and a 1-yard plunge just before halftime, a drive in which he accounted for 31 of his team’s 37 yards.
Kyle Whitman, Grant: A gash on the top of his head required 9 staples to close and threatened to keep him out of the Bulldogs’ homecoming game against Vernon Hills. Instead, the quarterback turned in a heady performance. He rushed 16 times for 135 yards, scoring on runs of 28, 20, 7 and 4 yards, as the Bulldogs rolled to a 43-7 win.
DEFENSIVE MVP
Ivan Nevarez, Leyden: The senior linebacker was part of a monster defensive effort that helped Leyden knock off previously undefeated Hinsdale South 17-14 and move into sole possession of first place in the West Suburban Gold. Nevarrez had 10 solo tackes, 4 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery, which he returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
DEFENSIVE RUNNERS-UP
Blake Bradford, Kaneland: It was assignment football against unbeaten Rochelle’s Wing-T ground game. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior outside linebacker aced the test — 11 tackles, 2 for loss and a sack in the Knights’ 34-6 victory. A week after Rochelle gained 514 yards and 26 first downs, Bradford and the Knights held the Hubs to 140 yards and 10 first downs.
Matthew Kelly, Carmel Catholic: Matthew Kelly. Kelly, Matthew. The junior safety had as many interceptions as he does first names in the Corsairs’ 13-7 win at Nazareth Academy. His first pick set up the game’s first touchdown, and his second stopped a fourth-quarter drive. He added 5 tackles, as the Corsairs earned a much-needed victory.
Jeff Markham, Waubonsie Valley: The 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior safety was a difference maker in the undefeated Warriors’ 19-0 Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division win over rival Bartlett. Of Markham’s 9 tackles, 8 were solo stops, with a tackle for loss and a sack. Markham caused a fumble and intercepted a fourth-quarter pass, returning it 35 yards for a touchdown.
Austin Mungai, Streamwood: This veteran defensive back helped Streamwood snap a 3-game slide by picking off 3 Larkin passes in a 27-0 victory. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior returned a first-quarter interception 50 yards for a touchdown that staked the Sabres to a 14-0 lead.