Football: Week 7 MVPs
Warren senior running back Max Sorby and Lisle senior defensive back/kicker Kyle Hendzel have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for their performances in Week 7 of the high school football season.
Sorby gained 295 yards on 28 carries with 2 touchdowns as Warren defeated North Chicago.
Hendzel intercepted two passes and had two key recoveries, one after a fumble and another after a blocked punt, to help Lisle shut out Westmont.
Offensive players of the week:
Max Sorby, Warren: That was max effort by Max. While the Blue Devils’ passing attack has been prolific, the senior running back showed they can move the ball on the ground, too. Sorby rushed 28 times for a career-high 295 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 61-38 win over North Chicago. He also had 3 receptions.
Brannon Barry, St. Charles East: Five days after Illinois State offered the 6-foot-5, 205-pound receiver, adding to Western Illinois’ offer, Barry caught 8 passes for 196 yards, believed to be a school record, in a 42-27 Upstate Eight River win over Streamwood. He had a 65-yard touchdown catch and at safety made 6 tackles with a sack.
Robert Cuda, South Elgin: This 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback was responsible for 6 touchdowns in a 60-21 Upstate Eight Valley win at West Chicago. The senior rushed for touchdowns of 11 and 7 yards. Cuda also completed 19 of 29 attempts for 332 yards, including scoring throws of 17, 30, 32 and 62 yards. He did not throw an interception.
Mikey Dudek, Neuqua Valley: The Illinois recruit hurt Waubonsie Valley in the Wildcats’ 40-25 Upstate Eight Valley rivalry victory. The 180-pound receiver scored on a 77-yard kickoff return to start the second half and returned another 32 yards. Dudek caught 7 of Neuqua’s 10 completions for 97 yards with a 7-yard grab to open the scoring.
Jack Warner, Hersey: Warner produced under pressure, tossing a touchdown pass with 30 seconds left to help put Hersey in the MSL East driver’s seat with a 43-42 victory at Elk Grove. He finished 19-for-29 passing for 363 yards and with no interceptions, 4 TD passes (2 each for Tyndale Dahnweih and Eddie Miklasz) and 1 rushing score.
Defensive players of the week:
Kyle Hendzel, Lisle: A soccer player who joined the Lions to kick, Hendzel battled to earn a cornerback spot. His first start came in last week’s 28-0 Interstate Eight Small Division win over Westmont. The senior intercepted 2 passes, returned a fumble 36 yards, made 2 tackles, recovered a blocked punt and boomed 2 touchbacks.
Mikey Castoro, St. Edward: This senior was all over the field in a 60-21 victory over Wheaton Academy that made St. Edward playoff eligible for the first time since 2010. The safety led the Green Wave defense with 8 tackles, but that wasn’t his only accomplishment. A two-way player, Castoro also led the Wave with 174 rushing yards on 9 carries. He scored on touchdown runs of 11, 67 and 89 yards.
Tyler Eberth, Marmion: St. Francis was driving, up 14-0 late in the first half when the 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior defensive back picked off a pass and zigzagged 98 yards upfield for a touchdown. Eberth later made a game-tying touchdown catch, plus 3 tackles and a breakup in Marmion’s 26-20 Suburban Christian Blue victory.
Tyler Urban, Wheeling: An opportunistic Wheeling defense made the difference as the Wildcats proved stingy in a 30-6 Mid-Suburban East victory at Buffalo Grove. Urban had 2 interceptions and also made a significant contribution on the other side of the ball with 3 catches for 38 yards.
Jake Zimmerman, Lakes: Eagles coach Luke Mertens raves about the senior cornerback’s character. Mertens praised Zimmerman’s performance in the Eagles’ 42-7 win over Vernon Hills. Zimmerman returned 2 interceptions a total of 55 yards, while also notching 9 tackles and breaking up a pair of passes.