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Football: Week 8 MVPs

Daniel Santacaterina of Geneva and Michael Mariella of Vernon Hills have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for the performances in Week 8 of the high school football season.

Santacaterina, a junior quarterback, led the Vikings to a wild 49-45 win over Metea Valley with 373 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.

Mariella picked off a pair of passes in the end zone to help the Cougars past Round Lake 35-21.

Offensive players of the week:

Daniel Santacaterina, Geneva: The Vikings earned playoff qualification with their sixth win in a 49-45 Upstate Eight Conference crossover win at Metea Valley. They needed all of their junior quarterback’s 373 yards passing to do so. Santacaterina completed 11 of 19 passes with 5 touchdown strikes, of 57, 36, 70, 45 and 41 yards.

Mike Brey, Lakes: Starting in place of injured running back Cameron Johnson, Brey had a day. The senior, a regular starter at linebacker, rushed 14 times for 182 yards and 4 touchdowns, as the Eagles clinched the North Suburban Prairie Division title with a 51-34 win over North Chicago. He scored a fifth TD on a scoop and score from 32 yards out. He also had 11 tackles.

Travious Brown, Streamwood: This sophomore running back’s big day helped lead the Sabres to victory for the first time under new coach Mark Orszula. The 5-foot-5, 180-pound workhorse carried 25 times for 177 yards, highlighted by a 4-yard touchdown run, as Streamwood toppled Elgin 41-30.

John Gemmel, Wheaton Academy: In the Warriors’ 48-27 Suburban Christian Gold victory over Chicago Christian, the 5-foot-7, 190-pound senior running back approached his own program rushing record of 290 yards, set last season as a junior. Gemmel ran for 240 yards on only 12 carries, with touchdown runs of 9, 56 and 16 yards.

Garrett Groot, Fremd: The senior running back has emerged as a touchdown-making machine in the latter part of the season. In Friday’s 36-27 victory over previously unbeaten Schaumburg, Groot rushed for 167 yards, and, for the second straight week, had 4 touchdowns.

Defensive players of the week:

Michael Mariella, Vernon Hills: The senior cornerback has demonstrated a nose for the football the last two seasons. He showed off his instincts and athleticism again in the Cougars’ homecoming-spoiling, 35-21 win over Round Lake. He had 2 interceptions in the end zone — giving him 6 picks for the season — and also broke up three passes.

Johnny Frederickson, Burlington Central: This defensive back helped seal the Rockets’ 41-28 victory over Rock Falls. Burlington Central led its final home game of the season in the fourth quarter, 35-24, when the 133-pound junior picked off a pass at the Rock Falls 45-yard line and raced to the end zone for a touchdown that iced it.

Jordan Hassan, Glenbard West: The Hilltoppers’ defense dominated Addison Trail in a 55-0 victory, thanks in much part to the play of Hassan. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior linebacker notched 11 tackles while adding 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. The Hassan-led defense allowed a total of only 109 yards and 6 first downs.

Roman Padilla, Aurora Central Catholic: The junior strong safety made 10 tackles, 2 for loss, saving his best for last in a huge 13-12 Suburban Christian crossover win against Marmion. The 190-pound Padilla scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard run early in the fourth quarter. With 1:31 left his interception at ACC’s own 34 clinched the win.

Matt Wary, Elk Grove: Wary had a game-changing effort as the Grens kept their postseason hopes alive and well with a 27-7 victory at Wheeling. One one series, Wary came up with a third-down sack and followed up by blocking the punt on the next snap as Elk Grove took control of the game.

Mike Brey
Travious Brown
John Gemmel
Garrett Groot
Michael Mariella
Johnny Frederickson
Jordan Hassan
Roman Padilla
Matt Wary
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