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Football: Graham, Yukna earn MVP honors

Conant senior receiver Palmer Graham and Waubonsie Valley junior safety Connor Yukna have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for their performances in Week 7 of the high school football season.

OFFENSE

Palmer Graham, Conant: The Cougars' two-way senior standout had his second straight game with more than 200 yards receiving as the Cougars handled Schaumburg 49-14. Graham scored TDs on catches of 61, 44 and 83 yards and finished with 5 catches for 219 yards for the MSL West co-leaders.

Billy Degnan, Willowbrook: The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior quarterback powered the Warriors to a 47-14 West Suburban Gold victory over Proviso East. Degnan completed 17 of 21 passes for 210 yards and 6 touchdowns. Five of the six touchdowns came in the first half with the sixth coming in the third quarter.

Ben Klett, Lake Zurich: Klett's clutch catch clinched it. After rushing for a pair of first-half scores, the senior running back made a running, one-handed, 52-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter, as the Bears went on to beat Mundelein 42-9. Klett, who scored on runs of 44 and 5 yards, rushed for 108 yards on 11 carries.

Brenner Wallace, Bartlett: This second-year quarterback enjoyed one of his finest games in a 51-6 homecoming victory over West Chicago. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior completed 27 of 35 passes (77 percent) for 280 yards and a career-high 5 touchdown passes as the Hawks improved to 3-4 and kept their playoff hopes alive.

DEFENSE

Connor Yukna, Waubonsie Valley: This 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior safety established immediate control from the defensive side of the ball in the Warriors' 49-6 nonconference win over East Aurora. Yukna intercepted the Tomcats' first 3 passes of the game, each pick leading to a Waubonsie touchdown. Yukna added 2 solo tackles and 1 assist.

David Daigle, Cary-Grove: This junior helped set the tone early in the Trojans' 51-20 homecoming victory over once-beaten Jacobs. The 5-foot-9, 151-pound defensive back opened the game by hauling in a tipped pass for an interception at the Jacobs 25-yard line, which Cary-Grove 6 plays later converted to a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Daigle later nabbed a second pick at his own 28-yard line, part of a 4-interception game by the Cary-Grove defense.

Majetete Balanganayi, Palatine: Balanganayi led an an inspired effort against Barrington as the Pirates knocked off a previously unbeaten team and climbed right back into the MSL West lead with a 26-24 victory. Balanganayi finished with 6 tackles, including 2 for loss and a pair of fourth-quarter sacks.

Brett Herdman, Round Lake: Herdman and his teammates were heard, loud and clear. After a big-time effort from their junior linebacker in a 7-6 win over North Chicago on homecoming, the Panthers whooped and hollered. Herdman had 2 sacks plus 2 other tackles for a loss and a forced fumble, as the Panthers earned their first win.

Connor Yukna
Billy Degnan
Ben Klett
Brenner Wallace
Majetete Balanganayi
David Daigle
Brett Herdman
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