Vote for Journal Star Boys Athlete of the Week for Sept. 7-12, presented by CEFCU

After plenty of solid high school sports performers over the last week, here are the Journal Star Boys Athlete of the Week nominees for Sept. 7-12, presented by CEFCU.

Head to www.pjstar.com/sports to vote. The poll closes at noon Friday, Sept. 18. Information about the nominees is below.

If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on X @pjstarsports. Last week, Owen Adams of the El Paso-Gridley football team was named JS Boys Athlete of the Week.

Troy Keever, Tremont football

Keever put together a career night on Friday, Sept. 11. The senior fullback rushed for 254 yards and recorded five touchdowns as Tremont beat Seneca 47-28. He posted scores of 1, 79, 64 and 67 yards, adding a 40-yard fumble return for a TD. Keever also kicked five extra points as Tremont scored its most points since a 50-point outing in 2021.

Stuart McGunnigal, St. Bede football

McGunnigal's return to the gridiron was evident on Friday, Sept. 11. The senior quarterback threw for 153 yards and four TDs as St. Bede beat Princeville 53-14 in Week 4 action. McGunnigal, who missed the second half of last season with a knee injury, completed 12-of-18 passing and threw scores of 11, 9, 40 and 6 yards with two TDs to Max Moreno.

Ayce Hawks, Richwoods football

Hawks made some big plays on Friday, Sept. 11. The senior wide receiver had 100 receiving yards and three TDs as Richwoods lost to Danville 41-36. Hawks' 29-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter put the Knights ahead before Danville grabbed a lasting lead. He added two first-half scores from QB Eli Carder, who had 400 passing yards and five TDs.

Brody Fritz, Morton football

Fritz helped end Washington's Mid-Illini Conference undefeated run on Friday, Sept. 11. The junior quarterback threw for 208 yards and three TDs as Morton won 56-30, snapping the Panthers' 27-game league win streak in Week 4. He completed 5-for-9 passing, finding Brendan Petty (60, 80 yards) and Isaac Davis (51 yards) for that trio of touchdowns.

Jonavan Harrell, Bushnell-Prairie City football

Harrell came up big on Friday, Sept. 11. The junior running back rushed for 304 yards and four TDs as B-PC rolled to a 50-6 win over West Prairie. Harrell rushed 16 times for 19.0 yards per carry including a long of 54 yards. His rushing effort was a part of 417 ground yards for the Spartans (3-1), who have won three and outscored those foes, 182-26.

Matthew Stropes II, Pekin football

Stropes II was a big-time player on Friday, Sept. 11. The senior quarterback threw for 138 yards and three TDs in a 65-14 win over Limestone in Week 4. He completed 9-of-11 passing, finding Dylan Anderson (34 yards) and Lyle Taylor (11 yards) for first-quarter scores. Stropes II then added a 17-yard, second-quarter scoring strike to Bray Kormah.

Jayvion Maxon, El Paso-Gridley football

Maxon was key factor for the Titans on Friday, Sept. 11. The senior wide receiver posted three catches for 76 yards as El Paso-Gridley cruised to a 35-0 win over Eureka in Week 4. His lone TD came with 56 seconds left in the first quarter when Owen Adams found him for a 30-yard score. Maxon is contributing to an offense averaging 43.3 points a game.

Evan Knobloch, Stark County cross country

Knobloch won the state's biggest Class 1A race on Saturday, Sept. 12. The junior took home top honors at the First to the Finish Invitational, covering the historic 3-mile Detweiller Park course in 14:57.8. His time was 12.2 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. The 2025 Journal Star Runner of the Year has two victories under his belt this season.

Jack Coulter, Peoria Notre Dame golf

Coulter took top Peoria-area honors at the two-day Redbird Classic on Saturday, Sept. 12. Coulter was fifth-place finisher thanks to tiebreakers, shooting a one-over 72 at Metamora Fields on Friday, Sept. 11, then finished with an even-par 72 at Coyote Creek in Bartonville. His two rounds included 18 pars, 10 birdies and six bogeys on 36 holes.

Jackson Orris, Dunlap soccer

Orris set a new Eagles standard on Monday, Sept. 7. The senior tied then broke the program record for most career goals in a 7-2 win over Metamora. Orris' second goal of his hat trick was his 79th goal, setting a new all-time mark. The Northern Illinois commit then scored three more goals in two other matches last week, giving him 82 career goals.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Vote for Journal Star Boys Athlete of the Week for Sept. 7-12, presented by CEFCU