Football: Week 1 MVPs
Mundelein senior running back Emanuel Jones and Geneva junior defensive back Pace Temple have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for their performances in Week 1 of the high school football season.
Jones helped the Mustangs snap a losing streak that had reached 18 games by rushing for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 29-22 victory over Wheeling.
Temple had a pair of interceptions, the last of which helped ice Geneva’s 29-27 win against Oswego. He also had a standout game on the offensive side of the ball with 160 receiving yards.
Offensive players of the week:
Emanuel Jones, Mundelein: The guy his teammates call “E-Man” was “The Man” against Wheeling. He busted off second-half touchdown runs of 82, 51 and 79 yards, leading the Mustangs to a 29-22 win that snapped their 18-game losing streak. The senior running back finished with 255 rushing yards on 16 carries and also caught 2 passes for 24 yards.
Davontae Elam, St. Edward: Big-play Davontae opened his fourth varsity season by scoring a career-best 5 touchdowns in a 43-21 victory over Genoa-Kingston. On the first play from scrimmage, Elam erupted for an 80-yard touchdown. The 190-pound running back later scored on a 72-yard run and touchdown plunges of 1 and 2 yards. He carried 13 times for 214 yards (16.5) and 4 touchdowns. The senior also made 1 reception, good for a 76-yard scoring play.
Jimmy Mitchell, St. Charles East: The 6-foot senior quarterback began his second year as a starter with his best game as a Saint. In a 35-27 Upstate Eight crossover win against South Elgin, Mitchell completed 20 of 33 passes for 272 yards and 5 touchdowns with no interceptions. His touchdowns traveled 43, 5, 23, 13 and 36 yards.
Nick Orlando, Palatine: The Pirates’ junior signal-caller sure didn’t seem overhwhelmed by his first varsity start, completing 10 of 16 passes for 179 yards and touchdowns of 7 and 51 yards as Palatine rolled to a 25-7 victory at Libertyville in its opener. Orlando also rushed for 75 yards.
Zach Smith, Glenbard South: The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior running back hit the ground sprinting in the Raiders’ 39-21 nonconference victory over Addison Trail. Smith scored 5 touchdowns, carrying the ball 16 times for 130 yards and catching 2 passes for 118 yards including an 81-yard first quarter touchdown reception.
Defensive players of the week:
Pace Temple, Geneva: If there was an overall player of the week the 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back would have earned it after a 29-27 win over Oswego. His late second-quarter interception led to a field goal and his late fourth-quarter pick clinched victory. Temple also caught 6 passes for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kevin Copher, Conant: The senior defensive back intercepted a pair of passes and also returned a punt 33 yards for a touchdown as Conant got its season started with 28-14 victory over nonconference foe Lake Park.
Jordan Kabb, Huntley: This 5-foot-9, 205-pound linebacker harassed Bartlett’s offense throughout a 23-12 nonconference victory. The senior returned from off-season shoulder surgery with a tackle for a 2-yard loss on the first play of the game. With his team trailing early in the fourth quarter, a blitzing Kabb hit the Bartlett quarterback before he could hand off for a 7-yard loss, pinning the Hawks at their own 14-yard line and eventually forcing the punt that led to Huntley’s go-ahead scoring drive. Kabb finished with a team-best 8 tackles, all solo, including 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss.
Colton Moskal, Lake Zurich: Syracuse must be psyched. The senior linebacker, who committed to the Division I school during the summer, showed off his play-making skills in the Bears’ 24-0 shutout of perennial power Fremd. A three-year varsity starter, he racked up 8 solo tackles, including a hefty 4 for loss, and also assisted on a stop.
Dylan Thompson, Montini: Maine South’s top blocking focus was containing the 6-foot-5, 280-pound Ohio State-bound defensive end. Thompson overcame that plan in Montini’s 21-19 nonconference victory. Thompson stopped second-level penetration and made 10 tackles, 4 for loss with 2 sacks.