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Maine West's Bellizzi picks up honor from Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears announced Friday that Brian Badke of Brother Rice has been named the Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week for Week 9 and running back/linebacker Jake Bellizzi of Maine West was named the Chicago Bears High School All-Star.

Badke helped lead the Brother Rice Crusaders to a 31-0 victory over Montini last week to finish the regular season undefeated for the first time in team history. Quarterback John Bean rushed for 3 touchdowns in the win, adding a passing touchdown as well. The Crusaders went from a 2-7 record in 2017 to the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division Champion and Class 8A top seed this year.

Bellizzi and the Maine West Warriors posted a 32-0 win at Deerfield on Oct. 19 to register their first outright Central Suburban League championship; 2018 also marked the team's first eight-win season since the program's inaugural year in 1959.

Bellizzi, a senior, has rushed for over 1,400 yards this season.

The Warriors, who are the 12th seed, defeated Benet Academy 20-18 Friday night in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.

Badke and Bellizzi will be invited to the Bears vs. Packers game on Sunday, Dec. 16, and will join their fellow 2018 Coach of the Week and High School All-Star honorees, respectively, for a pregame photo on the field. They will each also receive a framed certificate signed by Bears general manager Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

In addition to Coach of the Week and High School All-Star honorees attending the Bears vs. Packers game, all eight Illinois High School Association football state champion teams will also be recognized on Dec. 16. The Chicago Bears, in partnership with IHSA, will invite representatives from each team to the game and hold a special recognition of their state titles during halftime.

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