Most Valuable Player - Week 8
Most Valuable Player
Players of the Week *
Week 8 Offensive MVP
Brett Kleckner
The driving force behind Huntley's comeback in a 31-28 overtime victory over Prairie Ridge, the junior running back rushed for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns to help the Red Raiders secure their first football championship in the Fox Valley Conference. Down 21 points, Kleckner ignited the comeback by breaking away for an 80-yard touchdown run that pulled Huntley within 28-14. He later returned from an ankle injury to score on a 3-yard run.
Runner-up
Jordan Coffey
The Bulldogs senior quarterback couldn't have done much more with his 21 passes against DeKalb, completing 19 of them for 286 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 53-14 victory. Coffey also ran for 2 scores to give him 6 touchdowns on the night.
Runner-up
Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo used his arm and legs to keep Rolling Meadows rolling to a shot at a sixth straight playoff berth. The junior quarterback passed for 116 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Mustangs improved to 4-4 with a 39-14 victory over Hersey.
Runner-up
Cassidy Melton
Melton delivered a beltin'. The senior fullback whipped up on rival Grayslake North, rushing for a career-best 211 yards on 22 carries, as the Rams snapped their 18-game losing streak with a 35-21 road win. Melton opened the scoring by racing 51 yards into the end zone. A week earlier, he busted off a school-record 98-yard touchdown run.
Runner-up
Alex Pirela
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior running back led the way offensively as the Wildcats staged a 42-28 DuPage Valley Conference upset win over West Aurora. Pirela, a converted defensive back, had 20 carries for 182 yards, including touchdown runs of 8, 14, 51 and 38 yards.
Week 8 Defensive MVP
Aaron Montgomery
A.M. plays well in the p.m. The senior linebacker has shown that the last two years on varsity. His Friday night effort against Stevenson included 2 interceptions, giving him 6 for the season. He returned one of his picks 35 yards for a touchdown, as the Blue Devils clinched the North Suburban Lake Division title outright with a 50-25 win.
Runner-up
Louis Erkins
Erkins played a dominant role for the Raiders in their 24-12 Western Sun Conference victory over Rochelle. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior linebacker notched 19 tackles, including 12 solos and one for loss. Erkins was also pivotal in three goal-line stands against the Hubs.
Runner-up
Pat Friel
The senior middle linebacker did a little of everything in leading the Saints to a 21-0 shutout win over St. Charles North. Friel finished with 5 solo tackles, 7 total a pass breakup and a sack. One of Friel's tackle came at the goal line with St. Charles North driving for what would have been a tying fourth-quarter touchdown.
Runner-up
Chad McCarron
This 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior strong safety intercepted a pass on Dundee-Crown's second possession and returned it 20 yards for the opening touchdown in Cary-Grove's 33-6 victory. The interception was the third of the year for McCarron and the 17 this season by the Trojans, who clinched their fifth straight title in the Fox Valley Conference with the victory.
Runner-up
Chris Perez
Perez was a big part of the Grenadiers' defense hanging tough long enough for them to score twice and come back for a 14-13 Mid-Suburban East victory over Buffalo Grove. The defensive back had 2 interceptions, 2 deflected passes and 9 tackles.
