Season Wrap-Up

Season Wrap-Up

Wheaton North quarterback Mark Forcucci heads toward the student section as he celebrates the Falcons’ 35-6 victory over St. Rita during the Class 7A football state championship at Huskie Stadium. Forcucci earned captain honors of the DuPage County All-Area team after throwing for 24 touchdowns this season while leading his team to the Class 7A state championship.

Forcucci guides Wheaton North to state title with stellar play at QB, strong leadership skills

Right before the chaos of the postgame celebration following Wheaton North's victory over St. Rita in the Class 7A state championship game, Mark Forcucci attempted to find a moment to reflect on his football journey. Forcucci torched St. Rita for 302 yards passing and 2 touchdowns in a 35-6 rout to cement his name into the school's football legacy. Forcucci is the Captain of the 2021 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Football Team.
Cary-Grove quarterback Jameson Sheehan, the Captain of the Daily Herald’s 2021 Fox Valley All-Area football team, passed for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns, and ran for 906 yards and 16 scores while leading the Trojans to the Class 6A state title.

Sheehan leads Cary-Grove to undefeated season, Class 6A state crown with steady play, toughness

Cary-Grove QB Jameson Sheehan, the Captain of the Daily Herald's 2021 Fox Valley All-Area football team, passed for 930 yards this season on only 78 attempts, throwing 13 touchdown passes and but 1 pick. He also ran 97 times for 906 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, leading the 14-0 Trojans to the Class 6A state championship.
Maine South’s Mike Sajenko is the captain of the 2021 Daily Herald All-Area Football Team for the Northwest suburbs.

Maine South's Sajenko thrived in leading Hawks to state title game

Maine South has a pure thoroughbred. And although he wasn't entered in the Kentucky Derby, Arlington Million or the Breeder's Cup, the Hawks were able to ride senior Mike Sajenko all the way to Class 8A state championship game. His performance and his leadership have earned Sajenko the honor of being named the Captain of the 2021 Daily Herald All-Area Football Team for the Northwest suburbs.
Warren’s Maurice Edwards is the captain of the Daily Herald’s Lake County All-Area Football Team.

Warren's Edwards -- a player who, simply, has it all

Warren senior Maurice Edwards, who ran for 1,629 yards on 177 carries and scored 22 touchdowns in 11 games for a 9-2 team that won the North Subruban Conference title with a perfect 7-0 record and advanced to the second round of the Class 8A state playoffs, is the Captain of the Daily Herald Lake County All-Area Football Team.
Glenbard South senior running back Trevor Burnett is part of the DuPage County All-Area Football Team after helping the Raiders to a 9-2 season and No. 1 seed in the Class 5A playoffs.

Presenting the 2021 All-Area Football Team / DuPage County

Here is the 2021 Daily Herald All-Area Football Team for DuPage County
Jalen Buckley, an All-Area selection from Batavia, helped the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season including a win over Class 7A state champion Wheaton North on their way to the DuKane Conference championship.
Presenting the 2021 All-Area Football Team / Fox
Here is the 2021 Daily Herald All-Area Football Team for the Fox Valley area
Hoffman Estates’ Jashawn Johnson, an All-Area football player, led the Hawks to an 8-3 record and the second round of the playoffs.
Presenting the 2021 All-Area Football Team / Northwest suburbs
Here is the 2021 Daily Herald All-Area Football Team for the Northwest suburbs
Wauconda’s Vince Bennett hands off to Colin Husko against Antioch. Both Bulldogs are Lake County All-Area players.
Presenting the 2021 Lake County All-Area Football Team
Here is the 2021 Lake County All-Area Football Team
Football / Top 20
Here is the final Top 20 of the football season for those schools in the Daily Herald circulation area.
Hersey football coach Joe Pardun announced on Tuesday he is stepping down after eight seasons as the Huskies' head coach.
Pardun stepping down as Hersey's head coach
Hersey head coach Joe Pardun has always preached to his players that football is a family atmosphere. So it was no wonder that Pardun was surrounded by his wife Katie and his daughters Veronica and Vivian when he meet with his players Tuesday morning to inform his team that he was stepping down as head coach of the Huskies.
Maine South players hold the state runner-up trophy following the Hawks’ 24-6 loss to Lockport in the Class 8A football state championship at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb on Saturday.
Lockport's defense stymies Maine South in Class 8A title game
Maine South couldn't crack Lockport's defense and fell 24-6 in the Class 8A state championship game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
Wheaton North players celebrate with their trophy after defeating St. Rita 35-6 in the Class 7A football state championship at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb Saturday.
Championship ends 35-year drought for Wheaton North
Wheaton North won the fourth state football championship in school history and first since 1986 Saturday, beating St. Rita 35-6 in the Class 7A title game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
Cary-Grove head coach Brad Seaburg, right, claps for his team as the Trojans celebrate with their trophy after defeating East St. Louis 37-37 in the Class 6A football state championship at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb Saturday.
Late defensive stand key as Cary-Grove wins Class 6A championship
Cary-Grove's defense held tight when it had to Saturday and the Trojans completed an undefeated season with a stunning 37-36 win over top-ranked East St. Louis in the Class 6A state championship football game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
Joliet Catholic, Byron claim state titles
Make it 15 state football championships for Joliet Catholic Academy. The Hilltoppers added to their Illinois high school record thanks to a 56-27 victory over Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin Friday in the Class 4A state title game at Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Maine South’s Cole Cichowski celebrates as Marist turns the ball over on downs during the fourth quarter of the Class 8A football semifinal game in Chicago last Saturday. Maine South takes on Lockport Saturday night at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb for the state championship.
Scouting the Class 8A championship game between Maine South and Lockport
Here's a look at the Class 8A football championship game between Maine South and Lockport.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
WEEK 14 TOP TEAMS
Rank School W L T Notes
1 1 Wheaton North Football Wheaton North High School 13 1 Class 7A state champion
Notes: Class 7A state champion
2 2 Cary-Grove Football Cary-Grove High School 14 0 6A champ stunned East St. Louis
Notes: 6A champ stunned East St. Louis
3 3 Maine South Football Maine South High School 12 2 Class 8A runner-up
Notes: Class 8A runner-up
4 4 Neuqua Valley Football Neuqua Valley High School 10 2 Another great season
Notes: Another great season
5 5 Batavia Football Batavia High School 10 1 Only team to beat Wheaton North
Notes: Only team to beat Wheaton North
6 6 Prospect Football Prospect High School 10 3 Reached Class 7A semifinals
Notes: Reached Class 7A semifinals
7 7 Glenbard North Football Glenbard North High School 8 4 Good run to 8A quarters
Notes: Good run to 8A quarters
8 8 Warren Football Warren Township High School 9 2 Edwards made the Blue Devils go
Notes: Edwards made the Blue Devils go
9 9 Buffalo Grove Football Buffalo Grove High School 8 2 MSL East co-champs; 7A quarters
Notes: MSL East co-champs; 7A quarters
10 10 Hinsdale Central Football Hinsdale Central High School 9 2 Regular season average: 32.9 ppg
Notes: Regular season average: 32.9 ppg
11 11 South Elgin Football South Elgin High School 10 1 Upstate Eight champs
Notes: Upstate Eight champs
12 12 Glenbard West Football Glenbard West High School 8 3 Ran into Lockport in playoffs
Notes: Ran into Lockport in playoffs
13 13 Wauconda Football Wauconda High School 10 1 Bulldogs give Mills great ending
Notes: Bulldogs give Mills great ending
14 14 Palatine Football Palatine High School 7 4 MSL West co-champs reached 8A quarters
Notes: MSL West co-champs reached 8A quarters
15 15 Wheaton Warrenville South Football Wheaton Warrenville South High School 5 5 Gave Brother Rice all it could handle
Notes: Gave Brother Rice all it could handle
16 16 Naperville Central Football Naperville Central High School 7 4 Lost to Loyola in second round
Notes: Lost to Loyola in second round
17 17 Naperville North Football Naperville North High School 6 4 Regular season average: 28.7 ppg
Notes: Regular season average: 28.7 ppg
18 18 Grayslake Central Football Grayslake Central High School 8 3 Lost to Cary-Grove in second round
Notes: Lost to Cary-Grove in second round
19 19 Hoffman Estates Football Hoffman Estates High School 8 3 MSL West co-champs reached 7A quarters
Notes: MSL West co-champs reached 7A quarters
20 20 York Football York Community High School 8 2 Tough loss to Minooka in first round
Notes: Tough loss to Minooka in first round
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 
Photo Galleries
Glenbrook South’s Will Collins lunges toward the end zone as he scores a touchdown during Friday’s football game against Carl Sandburg.
IMAGES: GLENBROOK SOUTH 23, CARL SANDBURG 0
First day of Naperville Central High School football practice was held Monday and the players had time to stretch in between drills.
First official day of football practice for Illinois high schools
Rolling Meadows quarterback Michael Radon throws a pass during Saturday’s game at against Hersey.
Football action from Saturday, March 20
School Graduations More Galleries