Most Valuable Player
Players of the Week
Week 9 Offensive MVP
David Hoebbel
The senior running back enjoyed a night to remember against Wheaton Academy. He rushed 14 times for 95 yards and a touchdown, but his biggest play occurred with 15.7 seconds left in a tied game. Hoebbel returned a kickoff 79 yards to lift the Green Wave to a 34-28 victory. The win was St. Edward’s sixth of the season, thereby clinching the program’s first playoff berth since 2003.
Runner-up
Brian Kent
Just as Clark Kent used to change into Superman, Brian Kent did the same. Seemingly, anyway. The junior quarterback was simply super against Lakes on a rainy night. He threw for 243 yards on 13-of-23 passing and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 115 yards and 3 scores — on runs of 1, 25 and 62 yards — as the Bulldogs stunned the Eagles 41-12.
Runner-up
Matt Pircon
The speedy senior put it all together in the Cadets’ 18-7 Suburban Christian Blue victory over Montini. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound tailback ran for 80 yards with a 42-yard touchdown run, and made 4 catches for 69 yards with a tough 20-yard touchdown catch. Pircon added an early interception as Marmion clinched its first outright title since 1998.
Runner-up
Julian Sipiora
Sipiora made sure last Friday wouldn’t be his final high school football game as St. Viator faced a must-win situation to make the playoffs. The senior quarterback ran for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns on 17 carries as the Lions advanced to the postseason with a 28-0 win over St. Joseph.
Runner-up
Trace Wanless
The Raiders clinched a share of their first conference title since 1977 behind the play of their electric quarterback. In a 32-20 Western Sun victory over Sycamore, Wanless had 24 carries for 262 yards and touchdown runs of 31 and 68 yards. The 6-foot, 185-pound senior also threw for 69 yards and touchdown.
Week 9 Defensive MVP
David Hess
Hess helped the Huskies clinch their 13th straight playoff berth in a 41-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory over West Chicago. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior safety started the scoring when he recovered a fumble and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown. Hess also intercepted a pass and had 8 tackles.
Runner-up
Andrew Mariotti
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior defensive tackle picked a good time to have a great game — the 92nd meeting between Geneva and Batavia. Mariotti made 9 solo tackles, 4 for loss, plus an assisted tackle. Making big stops on third and fourth down, Mariotti helped Geneva win the Western Sun Conference game — and a share of the title — 23-0.
Runner-up
Mike O’Donoghue
O’Donoghue was oh-so good on "O" — and "D." Besides scoring the game’s only touchdown and rushing for 95 yards in the Mustangs’ 7-0 upset that denied Libertyville a playoff berth, the senior safety/running back made a difference on defense. He had 12 tackles and 2 pass breakups, as Mundelein beat Libertyville for the first time in more than two decades.
Runner-up
Connor Rollins
Rollins finished his high school career on a successful note as Hersey came back to win its first game of the season 12-8 over Wheeling. The senior defensive lineman had 8 tackles, 2 tackles for losses, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 sack as the Huskies allowed only 48 total yards.
Runner-up
Cooper Smith
This middle linebacker turned in a dominant performance in his final high school game. The Hampshire senior made 9 solo tackles and assisted on 8 others as the Whip-Purs shut out Marengo 18-0 in the season finale. It was the Whip-Purs’ second shutout of the season.
