Fox Valley all-area football team

Dwayne Allen, Jr. St. EdwardIt was another record-setting year in a record-setting career for this explosive running back. Named Metro Suburban Conference East offensive player of the year for the second year in a row, Allen broke his own single-season school records set last fall by rushing for 1,584 yards and 21 touchdowns despite 29 fewer carries (172). The 5-foot-10, 178-pound senior also made 18 tackles on defense, nabbed an interception and broke up 6 passes. He also returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns, but his legacy was cemented on offense over a three-year varsity career. His name goes in the St. Edward record book as the new career leader in rushing yards (3,632), rushing touchdowns (45) and average yards per carry (8.6). “He's a good one, a special kid,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “He was electrifying to watch with the ball in his hands.”

Sam Ambrogio St. Charles NorthIt's one thing to be physically gifted like this 6-foot-4, 295 pound junior lineman. It's another thing to be as technically sound as Ambrogio, who moved from tackle to guard and still excelled in his second varsity season for 7-win Charles North. The all-Upstate Eight River honoree helped the North Stars rush for 1,762 yards and throw for 2,011. “He graded out higher than anyone on the line, which is part of the reason why he's feeling out offers and getting a bit of Division-I interest,” St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak said. “He was an important part of what we did offensively.”

Mathew Barnes JacobsA steady two-way performer for a 7-win playoff team, this dependable senior was a staple on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley) outside linebacker was among the league leaders with 59 tackles. He also posted 3 sacks and a fumble recovery. As a running back he gained 509 yards on 83 carries (6.1 avg) and scored a team-best 8 touchdowns. He also contributed 3 receptions for 60 yards. “He did a great job running the ball for us, but he was just as valuable as a lead blocker,” Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. “He was a very good player for us. Not a big talker. He left it all out on the field. You got his full effort every time he strapped on his helmet.”

Nolan Bernat BartlettThis two-way player was key to Bartlett's return to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Though he battled injuries throughout the season, the three-year varsity performer rushed 131 times for 798 yards (6.1 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. The all-Upstate Eight Valley pick also caught 15 passes, good for 206 yards and 4 more scores. Defensively, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback made 26 tackles, defended a team-high 12 passes and snared 4 interceptions. “He was banged up but he played through it and put his heart and soul out there for his team,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “He wasn't near 100 percent most of the year but he didn't want to sit out. When he was healthy he was as good as anybody in the conference.”

Cameron Canales St. Charles EastThis running back not only learned a completely new triple-option offense over the summer, he switched positions within the new scheme midway through the campaign and continued to thrive. Named all-Upstate Eight River, the 5-foot-8 senior fought through early injuries at fullback, moved to the wingback position and finished the season as St. Charles East's leading rusher. Canales gained 789 yards on 112 carries (7.0 avg.) and scored 8 touchdowns. “I'm not sure there's another running back in the Tri-Cities I'd take over him and I'm not just being a homer,” Saints coach Bryce Farquhar said. “He totally bought into what we needed him to do. He made the transition from fullback one week to wingback the next and he stayed out there and did a great job.”

Sean Chambers GenevaCommitted to Princeton to play in the defensive secondary, this three-year varsity player switched from safety to quarterback to fill a team need. The team's backup quarterback last year behind Daniel Santacaterina (Northern Illinois), the all-Upstate Eight River and all-state honorable mention pick of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association stepped into the signalcaller role and excelled, thanks to his natural athleticism. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior, he not only completed 122 of 243 passes (50 percent) for 1,696 yards and 21 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions, he carried the ball 70 times for 196 yards and a touchdown for a team that won 9 games and reached the second round of the Class 7A playoffs. “We went as Sean went,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “It was just an unselfish act for him to bypass the defensive side of the ball and take over at quarterback. He didn't think twice. He's humble and willing to do what needs to be done.”

Canaan Coffey BataviaThis 6-foot-2, 210-pound wide receiver's second varsity season was record-setting. The senior set new Batavia single-season records for receptions (83) and receiving yards (1,154) and caught 11 touchdowns for a team that won 10 games, a fifth-straight Upstate Eight Conference River Division title and advanced to a Class 7A quarterfinal. An IHSFCA all-state honorable mention honoree, Coffey set a new single-game school record against rival Geneva with 225 yards on 14 catches, 2 of which went for touchdowns. “He's a hard worker, a vocal leader and a great teammate,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “He's just a fantastic kid. “He just had a great year. We wouldn't have had the year we had without him.” Coffey also punted for a 31-yard average and pinned 7 of his 16 punts inside the opponents' 20. The talented multisport participant will continue his athletic career in basketball at Indiana Wesleyan.

DaQuan Cross West AuroraAn all-Upstate Eight Valley selection, this two-way performer was a big reason West Aurora reached the playoffs for the first time since 1994. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back carried the ball 79 times for a team-best 813 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 10.3-yard per carry average was the highest among the 24 teams in the Fox Valley area. The junior also caught 10 passes for 155 yards. Defensively, he played outside linebacker and collected the third-most tackles among the Blackhawks (34 solo, 9 assists) and he corralled 3 interceptions. After Cross returned 3 kickoffs for touchdowns as a sophomore, teams avoided kicking his way in 2015, limiting him to 7 returns for 110 yards. “What a football player,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “He's probably the best athlete I've seen around here in 10 years. He made such a huge difference for us. Not many players can do what he did on both sides of the ball. I expect him to be one of the best players in the state next year.”

Nick DeMaira Westminster ChristianThis 5-foot-10, 185-pound middle linebacker was the backbone of a Westminster Christian defense that limited opponents to 14.9 points per game during the regular season. An all-Northeastern Athletic Conference pick with interest from Division-III coaches, DeMaira helped the Warriors reach the playoffs for the fist time in three varsity seasons by making 67 solo tackles and 52 assists. He also contributed 2 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and recovered another. When the senior was called to action on offense for a game due to a teammate's injury, he carried 8 times for 33 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, defense was his specialty. “He went to a lot of linebacker camps last summer and he mastered reading offensive line footwork to the point he'd know which way each play would go,” Westminster Christian coach John Davis said. “He was the master of the middle.”

Jake French St. EdwardThe returning Metro Suburban Conference East Division defensive player of the year wasn't named the repeat winner of the award despite making 2 more tackles this season (77) than last. A three-year varsity player, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior helped lead the Green Wave to their third straight playoff appearance while shuttling between nose guard and linebacker on defense, playing guard on offense and punting. He finished the season with 9 sacks, an interception and 2 pass breakups. He graduates as St. Edward's all-time leader with 22 sacks. In three seasons he also recovered 7 fumbles, including 2 this year. “He has a good nose for the ball and he's a hard-nosed kid,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “He's the epitome of a St. Ed's kid: not the biggest but he plays tough with lots of heart, desire and hustle.” French has opted to concentrate on his studies at Findlay University's School of Pharmacy rather than pursue football at the collegiate level.

Jimmy Freskos Cary-GroveCary-Grove's triple option offense doesn't work without a strong perimeter game and its perimeter game doesn't work without the type of superior blocking and deep threat this 5-foot-9, 160-pound, all-FVC Valley split end provided. “(Assistant coach Ryan) Passaglia calls him a technician in what he does because he's so detailed in his hand placement and his leverage,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “He's a tough, gritty kid and a great representative of our program.” A three-year varsity performer, Freskos was Cary-Grove's leading receiver with team highs in catches (11) and yards (261) and he tied for the team lead with 3 touchdowns grabs. The senior's perimeter blocking was a big reason speedy teammate Ryan Magel was able to turn up the sideline for a pair of long touchdown runs in a Class 7A quarterfinal victory over Batavia. In a demonstration of his all-around athleticism, Freskos also started at cornerback in that game and played well in place of an injured starter, Seaburg said.

Shawn Griffin South ElginNamed an Honorary Co-Captain of the 2015 Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area Football team, this running back's combination of speed and determination helped South Elgin win its first Upstate Eight Valley title, reach the second round of the Class 8A playoffs and set a new program record with 9 wins. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior was named Class 7A all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association after rushing for 1,631 yards on 206 carries (7.9 avg.). He scored 21 rushing touchdowns in 11 games. He also made 14 catches for 96 yards and another score to finish with 22 touchdowns and a team-best 132 points. He finishes his three-year varsity career with 2,981 rushing yards on 385 carries. His 31 career rushing touchdowns stand as the school record. “He approached the game in a businesslike manner and did a great job for us,” South Elgin coach Patrik Pistorio said. “The way he prepared himself in the off-season really set him up to succeed.”

Isaac Hawn St. Charles NorthThis two-way standout received his first Division-I offer from Illinois State in July, soon after transferring for his junior year from Class 1A Westminster Christian in Elgin to Class 7A St. Charles North. A 6-foot-6, 270 pound tackle, Hawn was a crucial piece of an offense that averaged 377 yards and 37.9 points per game. He even chipped in with a few tackles at linebacker. “Isaac came in from Westminster and did a great job of climatizing himself to our program,” St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak said. “He became truly valuable to our team from more than just a physical standpoint. He did a great job at his right tackle position, but he did so much more for our offense with his daily efforts. He expects more from himself than anybody.” An all-Upstate Eight River selection, Hawn recently made visits to Northwestern, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Louisville, among others.

Jared Hornbeck HampshireThis 5-foot-10, 155-pound wide receiver helped Hampshire return to the playoffs by developing into one of the area's leading pass-catchers by season's end. Of the 24 teams in the Fox Valley area, Hornbeck ranked second in receiving yards (1,049) and tied for fifth in receptions (52). He finished his junior campaign with a 20.4-yards per-catch average. His season was dotted with mammoth performances. He set a school record with 247 receiving yards on 8 catches in a loss to Prairie Ridge, and he made 11 catches for 219 yards and 5 touchdowns in a first-round playoff loss to DeKalb. “He turned into our No. 1 receiver by the end of the year, partly because (receivers Jake) Manning and (Xavier) Bennett drew lots of double teams and opened things up for him,” Hampshire coach Mike Brasile said. “He became our solo-up guy on a three-by-one back side (formation). That would allow him to go win some matchups.”

AJ Hunter LarkinLarkin found ways to score against Upstate Eight Conference teams and Hunter was often the reason. A repeat all-UEC River and All-Area selection, this two-way stalwart was among the most dangerous skill-position players in the league. The 6-foot, 158-pound senior used his natural athleticism at wide receiver to get open and haul in 54 receptions, 5 of which went for touchdowns. His 781 receiving yards were the second-highest total in the Fox Valley area through the end of the regular season. “AJ had a great season for us offensively,” Larkin coach Dragan Teonic said. “What makes AJ's achievements even more impressive is that he was able to perform at the level he did in only 7 games as he missed 2 games to injury. He is always a threat to score and was usually covered by the opponent's best player.”

Andrew Kamienski South ElginA repeat all-Upstate Eight Valley and All-Area selection, this talented wide receiver pulled double duty in the secondary to help the Storm to their best season yet. Defensively, as a safety and sometimes rover linebacker he contributed a pass breakup and 31 tackles (24 solo), including a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. A 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, Kamienski finished as South Elgin's leader in receiving yards (794) with 48 catches, 9 of which went for touchdowns. Over three varsity seasons he made 114 receptions for 1,900 yards and 17 touchdowns. “He was the most competitive kid we had in our program,” South Elgin coach Patrik Pistorio said. “Whether it was drills, blocking, offense or defense, he took it seriously and competed every play. He played football the right way.” Kamienski projects as a safety at the next level, his coach said, and has gained interest from Winona State, ISU, Northern Illinois, Western Illinois and Wayne State, among others.

Weston Kramer MarmionAn all-Chicago Catholic League-White pick also named honorable mention all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, Kramer was one of the toughest players in the CCL to line up against. A 6-foot-2, 260 pound defensive tackle, the junior used pure strength to bull his way to more than 20 tackles for loss and 3 blocked kicks, feats that already have the attention of college coaches. “Wes is one of the most physical players we have ever had at Marmion,” Cadets coach Dan Thorpe said. “He goes 100 percent all the time in practice and in the game.”

Andrew Kray KanelandNamed to the Class 6A all-state team by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, this 6-foot, 260-pound, two-way lineman was a key reason the Knights went 7-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs. He played left tackle for an offense that gained 1,672 rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry) and threw for 1,855 yards. An all-Northern Illinois Big 12 East pick, Kray was a threat no matter where he lined up on defense. The senior finished second on his team with 76 tackles, 16 of which were tackles for loss. His 7 sacks tied for the team lead. He also hurried the quarterback 6 times, broke up a pass and forced 3 fumbles. “We're really going to miss him,” Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said of his three-year starter. “He just had a will for us to win. We went through a tough stretch at midseason and he and (quarterback) Jake Marczuk really held us together.”

Michael Kruse HampshireOpposing quarterbacks learned to tread lightly when this 5-foot-9, 195-pound safety patrolled over the top. Named Class 6A all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, the senior finished with an area-best 9 interceptions, deflected 9 other passes and made 65 tackles to lead the Whip-Purs back to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Also an academic all-state honoree, Kruse picked off 2 passes and returned one 18 yards for a touchdown in a 28-9 win against Crystal Lake Central that made Hampshire playoff eligible. “He always knew where to be at the right time and he had a great knack for getting the ball,” Hampshire coach Mike Brasile said. “A multisport athlete who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds, Kruse intends to play baseball in college but remains undecided, his coach said.

Derek Kumerow South ElginThis repeat all-Upstate Eight Valley pick helped the Storm win their first division title in the Upstate Eight, a school record 9 games and advance to the second round of the Class 8A playoffs, thanks to his natural football instincts on both sides of the ball. As a wide receiver the sure-handed 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior led South Elgin with 51 receptions, good for 679 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively, he used those same great hands to snare 3 interceptions to go with 12 solo tackles and 6 assists. “His ability to go up and get the ball and the way he could adjust made for some special catches in games and in practices,” South Elgin coach Patrik Pistorio said. “We tried to move him around in the spread because with him on the back side of a three-by-one formation it stretched the defender out into the flat and really opened up our running game.”

Tyler Larson HuntleyThis 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior tackle used the weight room to transform himself from a 155-pound sophomore into one of the fiercest pass rushers in the northwest suburbs. Larson led Huntley's stout defensive line with 53 tackles, the third-highest total overall for a unit that limited opponents to 241 yards and 14.1 points per game. Named all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley), he finished tied for the team lead with 5 sacks, registered 9 tackles for loss, forced a fumble and recovered 4 others. “Some guys just have an innate ability to pass rush and there are very few of them, but he was almost unblockable all year long,” Huntley coach John Hart said. “His speed off the pass block to the quarterback is exceptional.”

Eric Lins St. Charles NorthThis 6-foot-1, 195-pound running back ended up staying on the field longer than originally planned when a teammate's injury forced him into double duty at safety. Lins went on to excel in both roles. The junior rushed for 850 yards and 13 touchdowns on 100 carries (8.5 avg.). The all-Upstate Eight River selection also made 12 catches for 84 yards and 2 more touchdowns. At safety he registered 24 tackles, including 2 for a loss, and defended 6 passes. He even punted 10 times for a 33.3-yard average. “He did everything for us,” St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak said. “He ended up being a two-way starter in Week 4 against Geneva and took every snap on the defensive side of the ball even though he played most of the season with a broken wrist he didn't tell anybody about. He was our most valuable player.”

Jake Marczuk KanelandA 5-foot-10, 170-pound quarterback, this multitalented senior helped Kaneland win 7 games, including its Class 6A first-round playoff opener. An all-Northern Illinois Big 12 East pick, Marczuk completed 138 of 221 attempts (62.4 percent) for 1,855 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was intercepted 9 times. The all-Northern Illinois Big 12 East pick was just as dangerous on the run. The Knights' leading rusher by a wide margin, he ran for 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns in 187 rushing attempts. (5.4 avg.). “Jake improved more over the course of the season than anybody,” Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said. “He thought he could be the difference maker in close games this year so he worked hard in the off-season and it paid off. He got better and the stats show it.”

Tim McCloyn HuntleyThis 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker is reaping the rewards of an off-season training regimen that prepared him to lead Huntley to 10 wins and a second-round playoff game. A repeat all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley) and All-Area selection, this senior was named to the Class 8A all-state team by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association after making 72 tackles (54 solo), including a team-best 12 tackles for loss. Committed to Illinois State since August, McCloyn finished tied for the team lead with 5 sacks and contributed 4 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles. “His speed was sometimes the difference between an L or a W,” Huntley coach John Hart said .”We always talk about having erasers. Well, he was an eraser. If someone would be burned for a long run, he could run it down for a 20-yard gain instead of a touchdown. And he got better and better at his position all year. Not very many players can do what he does.”

Eric Mooney HuntleyThis dynamic sophomore had a huge impact on Huntley's offense in his second varsity season. Though quarterback is his natural position, Mooney spent the year as a wide receiver who just as often lined up in the backfield so his coaches could get the ball in his hands more often. The result? The 6-foot-1, 185-pound speedster carried 76 times for 847 yards and 16 touchdowns. The all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley) pick also made 26 catches for 597 yards (23 avg.) and 3 more scores. “He's a special player, the best sophomore I've ever had,” Huntley coach John Hart said. “He might be one of those players at the next level who can do so many things because of his speed and elusiveness He has so many different skills, running it, catching it, throwing it. He's just a good football player.”

Kyle Niemiec BataviaNamed an Honorary Co-Captain of the 2015 Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area Football team, the dedication to improvement by this Class 7A all-state pick of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association helped Batavia win 10 games, a fifth straight Upstate Eight Conference River Division crown and make a Class 7A quarterfinal appearance. The 6-foot-2, 190 pound senior's continual off-season work with his receivers led to a unique chemistry that yielded accuracy. Niemiec completed 65.4 percent of his passes (204 of 312) for 2,753 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was intercepted only 4 times, or once every 78 attempts. Named the UEC River offensive player of the year, the mobile quarterback carried 93 times for 408 yards (4.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. “No one works harder than Kyle,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “Everything he accomplished was a direct result of the hard work he put in. He was a leader.”

Erik Norberg Cary-GroveThis 6-foot-2, 222-pound senior was a force on both sides of the ball for the Class 7A semifinalists. The all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley) pick had never played defense before this season, yet he excelled as a lineman for a team that went 11-2. First at nose guard and later at end, he finished with 23.5 tackles (15 solo, 17 assists), including team highs in sacks (5) and tackles for loss (7). He also played a critical role as a blocking tight end in Cary-Grove's triple-option offense, which gained 344 yards per game in 13 outings. “He was a difference-maker on defense,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “His takeoffs were so explosive and caused so much trouble for offensive linemen even though he was undersized for the position he was playing. He was also a very effective tight end in our system because of his ability to down block and turn and go.”

Derek Nutley BataviaThis 6-foot, 185-pound lineman's success is a testament to hard work. Nutley went from biding his time as a JV football player as a junior to being named defensive player of the year in Upstate Eight Conference's River Division as a senior. The end terrorized opposing quarterbacks. Not only did he shatter Batavia's program record for sacks with 16.5, he also registered 33 quarterback hurries to go with 48 solo tackles and 8 assists, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He even defended 2 passes. “What a wonderful young man he is,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “He's a hard worker, modest, humble and quiet, but he has a motor that never quits. When the ball was snapped he was in motion and didn't stop until the whistle, ever.”

Tyler Pennington Cary-GroveThis three-time all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley) selection and repeat all-area pick enjoyed his third-straight 1,000-yard rushing season. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound junior helped lead the Trojans to their third semifinal in four seasons by carrying the ball 280 times for 1,433 yards and 24 touchdowns, including a 39-yard burst on a snowy field that gave Cary-Grove a 6-0 lead over eventual Class 7A champion Glenbard West. With a full season of eligibility remaining, he is already Cary-Grove's all-time leader in rushing attempts (750), rushing yards (4,376) and touchdowns (66). A natural linebacker, Pennington didn't play both ways full-time until Week 8, yet he ended the season as his team's third-leading tackler with 15 solos and 56 assists. He also notched 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, forced 2 fumbles and made an interception. “He makes it look easy,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “He makes 150-yard games seem ho-hum because he just churns away. He's just a tough, team-first kid, very detailed. He's reliable on both offense and defense. There's a confidence you have in calling his number.”

Mike Ribando South ElginSouth Elgin would not have reached the second round of the Class 8A playoffs or set a new school record with 9 wins had it not been for its strong offensive and defensive lines, led by this two-way standout. A 6-foot-5, 255-pound senior committed to St. Xavier, Ribando played guard and tackle for an offensive line that paved the way for 1,936 rushing yards and 2,354 passing yards. Named all-Upstate Eight Valley, he doubled as a defensive lineman and contributed 18 solo tackles, 20 assists, half a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. “He had to draw on all his abilities because he never left the field,” South Elgin coach Pat Pistorio said. “He did a great job playing multiple positions up front for us and he improved so much physically. Three years ago he was a 180-pound quarterback”

Dylan Sambrano Crystal Lake SouthWhen Crystal Lake South's defense made a tackle, there was approximately a one-in-five chance it was made by this 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker. Named team MVP, Sambrano recorded 94 total tackles (83 solo, 22 assists). The senior's next closest teammate finished with 53. The all-Fox Valley Conference (Valley) selection notched 4 sacks and 9 tackles for loss to help return the Gators to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. “He was a hitter, a leader and a captain,” CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “He controlled things on the field and was able to move players around, even when we were moving him around on the outside to try to stop the quarterback against Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove.” Though he only carried the ball 17 times, he gained 89 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.

Kyle Sanft BartlettA three-time all-Upstate Eight Valley pick and a repeat all-area selection, Sanft was a two-way fixture for the Hawks for three varsity seasons. Committed to play for Western Illinois, the 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior upped his total of pancake blocks from 71 last season to 80 in 2015. He paved the way for a Bartlett offense that gained nearly 1,500 rushing yards and 2,000 via the pass. Defensively, the lineman managed 29 solo tackles and 26 assists, 1½ sacks, 3 quarterback hurries and an interception. “Kyle is a workhorse,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “When you can put someone on their back the way he can, that's pretty darned good for an offensive lineman. He's been a mainstay on our line for three years. He's a great kid from a great family with a great future ahead of him.”

Drake Spears West AuroraVerbally committed to Illinois since June, this Class 8A all-state pick by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association was a key figure in West Aurora's best season in 21 years. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior, Spears contributed on offense, defense and special teams. As a running back he gained 358 yards on 51 carries and 7 scores, and he made 26 catches for 340 yards (13.1 avg.) and 4 touchdowns. Teams generally kicked away from Spears, but he was able to get his hands on 3 kickoffs, one of which he returned 81 yards for a touchdown against South Elgin. At his natural position of outside linebacker, he made 44 tackles, 37 solo, for a team that won 5 games for only the third time since 1994. “He did a little bit of everything for us and did it well,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “What stood out toward the end of the year is that he made some big third-down catches that kept important drives alive. Just a great football player.”

Justin Taormina GenevaIt wasn't a matter of if when it came to Geneva's 5-foot-10, 170-pound running back, it was a matter of when. “If we just gave him the ball enough, he was bound to break one,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “He's strong for his size and his open speed is just nasty. We're going to miss JT.” The senior was a workhorse for the Vikings with an area-high 23.5 carries per game. In 11 outings he rushed 258 times for 1,491 yards (5.8 avg.) and 18 touchdowns. Also a big-play receiver out of the backfield, he caught 14 passes for 272 yards (19.4 avg) and 4 touchdowns. The all-Upstate Eight River pick saved one of his best games for the playoffs. In a first-round win against Oswego East, he rushed 42 times for season highs of 285 yards and 4 touchdowns, highlighted by a 75-yard scoring run, his longest of the season. Taormina will continue his football career next year at Mankato State.

Loudon Vollbrecht GenevaThis 6-foot-8, 295-pound lineman was a key reason the Vikings were able to rush for 2,171 yards, win 9 games and advance to the second round of the Class 7A playoffs. Agile for his size, the right tackle cleared a path for an offense that averaged 197 rushing yards and 156 passing yards per game. He will likely play basketball in college, though the senior will miss his final high school basketball season due to an ACL tear suffered on the final play of the football season. “Loudon did what he needed to do: be a leader on our offensive line and be the best we had,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “He showed continuous growth from his sophomore year to his senior year and just got better and better. He had some of our best numbers grading out.”

Jimmy Wormsley JacobsThere's a reason this 6-foot-2, 280-pound sophomore recently visited Illinois and has interest from other Division-I schools, according to hall-of-fame coach Bill Mitz. “He's a great run blocker,” the Jacobs coach said. “Much of the yards we gained on the ground this season we gained behind him. And he's really improving as a pass blocker. He's going to be a good one.” In his second varsity season, the right tackle helped the Golden Eagles win 7 games and return to the playoffs after a one-year absence by paving the way for 166.3 rushing yards per game. His pass protection helped Jacobs average 180.3 yards through the air.

Jeremiah Wright Aurora ChristianPound for pound, no area player delivered more than this 5-foot-7, 155-pound senior. Though he will likely play in the secondary at the next level, this all-Chicago Catholic League-White honoree excelled in space as an outside linebacker. Wright tied for the team lead with 63 tackles (32 solo, 31 assists) to go with 4 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and an interception. Offensively, he was dynamic whether running the ball or catching it. The running back finished with 149 carries for 810 yards (5.4 avg.), 5 touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversions. He also hauled in 45 receptions for 418 yards (9.3 avg.), 6 touchdowns and a 2-pointer. “He's a tough kid and that quickness and explosion he has translates to whatever sport and whatever position he's playing,” Aurora Christian coach David Beebe said. “He was our go-to guy on both sides of the ball. Whenever we needed a play we counted on him and he delivered. He was our captain for a reason.”

2015 Fox Valley All-Area team

Player School Yr. Pos.Brian “Nino” Adkins Streamwood Sr. WR/DB

Dwayne Allen, Jr. St. Edward Sr. RB

Sam Ambrogio St. Charles North Jr. OL

Mathew Barnes Jacobs Sr. RB/LB

Nolan Bernat Bartlett Sr. RB/DB

Cam Canales St. Charles East Sr. RB

Sean Chambers Geneva Sr. QB

Canaan Coffey Batavia Sr. WR

DaQuan Cross West Aurora Jr. RB/LB

Nick DeMaira Westminster Christian Sr. LB

Jake French St. Edward Sr. OL/DL/LB

Jimmy Freskos Cary-Grove Sr. SE/CB

*Shawn Griffin South Elgin Sr. RB

Isaac Hawn St. Charles North Jr. OL

Jared Hornbeck Hampshire Jr. WR

AJ Hunter Larkin Sr. WR/DB

Andrew Kamienski South Elgin Sr. WR/DB

Weston Kramer Marmion Jr. DL

Andrew Kray Kaneland Sr. DL

Michael Kruse Hampshire Sr. S

Derek Kumerow South Elgin Sr. WR/DB

Tyler Larson Huntley Sr. DL

Eric Lins St. Charles North Jr. RB/S

Jake Marczuk Kaneland Jr. QB

Tim McCloyn Huntley Sr. LB

Eric Mooney Huntley So. WR/RB

*Kyle Niemiec Batavia Sr. QB

Erik Norberg Cary-Grove Sr. DL/TE

Derek Nutley Batavia Sr. DL

Tyler Pennington Cary-Grove Jr. FB/LB

Mike Ribando South Elgin Sr. OL/DL

Dylan Sambrano Crystal Lake South Sr. LB

Kyle Sanft Bartlett Sr. OL/DL

Drake Spears West Aurora Sr. RB/LB

Justin Taormina Geneva Sr. RB

Loudon Vollbrecht Geneva Sr. OL

Jimmy Wormsley Jacobs So. OL

Jeremiah Wright Aurora Christian Sr. RB/DB

* Honorary co-captain

Honorable mentionAurora Central Catholic — Johnny Belskis (Jr., QB/DB)

Aurora Christian — Drew Clippert (So., QB)

Bartlett — Mike Bucaro (Sr., LB), Ben Johnson (Sr. WR/LB), Cameron Mays (Sr., DB)

Batavia — Glenn Albanese (Jr., TE), Brett Bowman (Sr., DB), Mitch Davey (Sr., OL)

Burlington Central — Jason Berango (Sr., RB), Brad Sorensen (Sr., LB)

Cary-Grove — David Daigle (Jr., S), Kevin Hughes (Sr., RB/DB), Ryan Magel (Jr., RB), Kevin Pedersen (Jr., LB)

Crystal Lake South — Drew Murtaugh (Sr., WR/LB), Luke Nolan (Jr., QB)

Dundee-Crown — Pat Sprouse (Sr., DB/QB), Levi Ziegler (Sr., DL)

Elgin — JoJo Span (Sr., WR/DB)

Geneva — John Boenzi (Sr., OL), Colin Lee (Sr., DL), Ryan Skibinski (Sr., WR)

Hampshire — Xavier Bennett (Sr., WR), Jake Vincent (Jr., QB)

Huntley — Anthony Binetti (Sr., QB), Alec Coss (Jr., WR), Daniel Dennis (Sr., LB), Olalare Oladipo (Jr., DL), Dominic Swanson (Sr., OL/DL)

Jacobs — Sean Barnes (Sr., RB/LB), Chris Katrenick (So., QB)

Kaneland — Tanner Robertson (Sr., WR)

Larkin — David Hibbler (Jr., QB)

Marmion — Johnny Tate (Sr., QB)

St. Charles East — Mitch Guillaume (Sr., LB), Jack Russell (Sr., LB), Max Schumann (Jr., OL)

St. Charles North — Zach Mettetal (Jr., QB), Jake Spaniol (Sr., DB)

St. Edward — David Madden (So., WR/DB/K), Saveon Smith (So., WR/DB)

South Elgin — Jake AmRhein (Sr., QB), Justin Nutof (Sr. LB), Brian Medina (Sr., OL/DL), Matt Zimmerman (Sr., OL/DL)

Streamwood — Jake Painter (Sr., LB), Chance McCray (Sr., DL)

West Aurora — Davion Cross (Jr., RB)

Westminster Christian — Xavier Brown (Jr., LB/RB), Scotty Graziano (Jr., WR/DB)

— All-area selections and capsules by Jerry Fitzpatrick

Captain's honor roll1995 — Eric Miquelon (Larkin)

1996 — Vince Webber (Larkin)

1997 — Vince Webber (Larkin)

1998 — Matt Schabert (Larkin) and Kevin Kaplan (Cary-Grove)

1999 — Matt Schabert (Larkin), Travann Hayes (Larkin) and Clint Reames (Jacobs)

2000 — Dan Sheldon (Burlington Central) and Colin Williams (Elgin)

2001 — Brett Borchart (Huntley) and Eric Kramer (Bartlett)

2002 — Brad Podge (Bartlett) and Trent Steckel (Crystal Lake South)

2003 — Doug Sanders (St. Edward) and Averill Sutchar (Bartlett)

2004 — Kent Martin (Bartlett) and Brian Mitz (Cary-Grove)

2005 — Jake Goebbert (Hampshire) and Alex Kube (Cary-Grove)

2006 — Andrew Lorman (Cary-Grove) and Paul Duyckinck (Burlington Central)

2007 — Sam Campbell (Prairie Ridge) and Cam Kinley (Larkin)

2008 — Jordan Neukirch (Huntley) and Kyle Zelinsky (Bartlett)

2009 — Jalen Williams (Larkin) and Eric Chandler (Cary-Grove)

2010 — Drew Ormseth (Crystal Lake South) and Andrew Puccini (Bartlett)

2011 — AJ Bilyeu (Bartlett) and Brad Walovitch (Crystal Lake South)

2012 — Kyle Norberg (Cary-Grove)

2013 — Bret Mooney (Jacobs)

2014 — Michael Gomez (Cary-Grove) and Trevor Ruhland (Cary-Grove)

2015 — Shawn Griffin (South Elgin) and Kyle Niemiec (Batavia)