Football: Week 6 MVPs
Rolling Meadows senior quarterback Jack Milas and Willowbrook senior all-around standout Dom Battaglia have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for the performances in Week 6 of the high school football season.
Milas rallied Rolling Meadows past Prospect with a 337-yard, 4-touchdown passing effort, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
Battaglia intercepted 2 passes, broke up 2 more, had 14 solo tackles and also generated 119 yards of offense and a touchdown as Willowbrook defeated Downers Grove South for the first time since 2006.
OFFENSIVE MVP
Jack Milas, Rolling Meadows: Milas had perhaps his best game yet in a season filled with high-quality performances. The senior quarterback threw for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead Meadows to a 49-28 win over Prospect in a key Mid-Suburban East game. Trailing 28-27 entering the fourth quarter, Milas threw the go-ahead touchdown to Steven Royster, part of 22 unanswered points by the Mustangs.
OFFENSIVE RUNNERS-UP
Erik Anderson, St. Charles East: Playing his first full game of what’s been an injury-plagued season, the 6-foot, 190-pound running back displayed his full potential in a 34-27 Upstate Eight River win over Geneva. Anderson carried the ball 28 times for a career-high 156 yards. He scored one touchdown on a 58-yard pass play and secured victory on a 5-yard touchdown run.
T.J. Edwards, Lakes: T.J. produced TDs. The junior quarterback completed 11 of 15 passes for 342 yards and 3 touchdown passes, while also running for a score, as the Eagles piled up a school-record point total in their 69-20 homecoming win over Wauconda. His TD passes covered 32, 35 and 33 yards, helping the Eagles win their third straight.
Davontae Elam, St. Edward: Finally back at full strength after dealing with injuries and the flu for weeks, this 5-foot-10, 190-pound tailback enjoyed a career day in a 43-26 victory at Chicago Christian. The junior helped St. Edward end a 4-game losing streak by rushing 36 times for 364 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Austin Guido, Waubonsie Valley: Surpassing 200 yards rushing for the fourth time this season, Guido anchored the Warriors’ 35-20 Upstate Eight Valley win over South Elgin. On 36 carries — 2 off his own school record — the 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior ran for 240 yards. He scored on runs of 1, 3, 1 and 6 yards to increase his season total to 20 rushing touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE MVP
Dom Battaglia, Willowbrook: With Battaglia leading in all three phases, Willowbrook claimed a 29-27 win over Downers Grove South. The 5-foot-9, 205-pound senior notched 14 total tackles, snared 2 interceptions and had 2 pass break-ups. He added 119 yards of offense and a touchdown as the Warriors beat the Mustangs for the first time since 2006.
DEFENSIVE RUNNERS-UP
Bradley Bauer, Palatine: Bauer came up big in a crucial spot for Palatine in its 24-17 victory over Fremd. With the Vikings driving for a potential game-tying touchdown, Bauer’s second interception of the night came with less than a minute left on the Pirates’ 16-yard line, helping Palatine to a fifth straight win and a share of the Mid-Suburban West lead.
Nick Costantini, Stevenson: No. 6 recorded a Pick Six. The junior linebacker’s 22-yard interception return for a touchdown helped highlight a 33-point opening quarter, as the Patriots cruised to a 40-7 win over visiting Mundelein. He also recorded a tackle for loss and finished with 5 stops, helping the Patriots win their fourth game in a row.
Kevin Kirchhoff, Bartlett: A third-year varsity starter at middle linebacker, this 5-foot-10, 245-pound senior helped lead Bartlett to a 21-13 Upstate Eight Valley victory over Lake Park. Kirchhoff recovered a fumble and made a key interception at his own 4-yard line in the third quarter to stop the driving Lancers. He also made 7 tackles.
Jonah Walker, Aurora Christian: The 6-foot-2, 224-pound junior defensive end thrived against a Marmion offensive line renown for its heart and physicality. In the Eagles’ 38-14 Suburban Christian Blue victory the returning starter recorded 3.5 sacks, shared the team lead with 8 tackles but had a team-high 6 solos, and forced a fumble. He combined on another tackle for loss.