Introducing the 2025 Daily Southtown Football All-Area Team

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Nine players from state champs Mount Carmel and Brother Rice highlight first and second teams.

First Team Offense

Lucas Andresen, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, receiver/running back/tight end: Multidimensional star ran for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 36 catches for 577 yards and eight TDs. All-state.

Ahmad Buchanan, Richards, senior, running back: Ran for 1,418 yards and 28 TDs, adding two TD catches. Also contributed 63 tackles. All-state. Conference player of the year.

Quentin Burrell, Mount Carmel, junior, receiver: Hauled in 67 catches for 1,124 yards and 14 TDs for Class 8A champs. All-state. Conference offensive player of the year.

Emmett Dowling, Mount Carmel, senior, quarterback: Passed for 3,697 yards and 45 TDs. Ran for 491 yards and 11 TDs. Honorable mention all-state. Conference MVP.

Corey Laga, Lemont, junior, lineman: Division I recruit allowed just one sack. Honorable mention all-state.

Broden Mackert, Providence, junior, running back: Ran for 1,736 yards and 23 TDs for Class 5A runner-up. Honorable mention all-state. Conference offensive player of the year.

Jacob Palucki, Andrew, senior, lineman: Didn’t allow a sack. Paved way for prolific option attack. Committed to Toledo.

Dorian Patterson, Crete-Monee, senior, receiver: Finished with 55 catches for 853 yards and 12 TDs. Added three interceptions. Committed to New Mexico.

Rico Schrieber, Marist, senior, lineman: A consistent force up front for the RedHawks. All-state. Conference co-lineman of the year. Committed to Purdue.

Bryce Tencza, Providence, senior, lineman: Led the way for dynamic rushing attack. All-state. Conference co-lineman of the year. Committed to Lafayette.

Jonas Williams, Lincoln-Way East, senior, quarterback: Threw for 2,488 yards and 35 TDs. Broke state records for career passing yards and TDs. All-state. Conference offensive player of the year. Committed to USC.

First Team Defense

Colton Benaitis, Lockport, senior, defensive back: Piled up 89 tackles, six for loss, eight pass breakups, two interceptions. All-state. Committed to Central Michigan.

Maximilian Carmicle, Hillcrest, senior, lineman: Contributed 61 tackles, 22 for loss, 10 sacks. Added three TD catches. Honorable mention all-state. Committed to Purdue.

Andrew Dawson, Oak Forest, senior, defensive back: Finished with 39 tackles, four for loss. Had five interceptions, returning three for TDs. Added seven TD catches on offense.

Roman Igwebuike, Mount Carmel, junior, linebacker: Contributed 111 tackles, nine for loss, 3 1/2 sacks. Also forced two fumbles.

Andre Labuda, Lockport, senior, linebacker: Piled up 119 tackles, eight for loss. Added three sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles. Honorable mention all-state.

Gage LaDere, Lincoln-Way East, senior, lineman: Finished with 53 tackles, five for loss, four sacks. Honorable mention all-state. Committed to Northwestern.

Owen Lynch, St. Rita, senior, linebacker: Piled up 87 tackles, 7 1/2 for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and two interceptions.

Darrell Mattison, Morgan Park, junior, defensive back: Finished with 47 tackles and five interceptions. Also a playmaking kick returner. All-state.

Kameron McGee, Brother Rice, sophomore, linebacker/lineman: Contributed 48 tackles, 17 for loss and 9 1/2 sacks for Class 7A champs. Recovered two fumbles.

Brayden Parks, Brother Rice, junior, lineman: Finished with 60 tackles, 12 1/2 for loss and 7 1/2 sacks. Forced two fumbles. Conference co-defensive player of the year.

Jaden Weaver, Sandburg, senior, lineman: Contributed 61 tackles, 18 for loss, six sacks. Honorable mention all-state.

First Team Specialists

Myles Ellis, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, athlete/specialist: Had 66 catches for 783 yards and 12 TDs. Also served as defensive back, kick returner, punter and holder. Honorable mention all-state. Committed to North Dakota State.

Zach Hermanson, Lincoln-Way West, senior, kicker/punter: Made 11 field goals, including six from beyond 40 yards, with long of 52. Averaged 45 yards a punt. All-state.

Cory Les, St. Laurence, senior, athlete: Ran for 1,414 yards and 13 TDs, adding three TD passes and three TD catches. Contributed 60 tackles and three forced fumbles.

Second Team Offense

Jayden Armstrong, Joliet Catholic, senior, receiver: Hauled in 39 catches for 623 yards and six TDs, adding four TD runs. All-state. Conference MVP.

Xavier Coleman, Providence, senior, receiver: Finished with 52 catches for 786 yards and six TDs. All-state. Committed to Western Illinois.

Derrin Couch, Crete-Monee, senior, quarterback: Threw for 2,044 yards and 32 TDs. All-state. Conference offensive player of the year.

Quinn Durkin, Sandburg, junior, receiver: Finished with 32 catches for 636 yards and 10 TDs, adding two TD runs.

Joe Farrell, Oak Forest, senior, lineman: Key blocker for multidimensional offense that averaged 36 points.

Kellen Gamble, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, lineman: Anchor up front as offense averaged 29 points. Committed to Northern Illinois.

CJ Gray, Brother Rice, senior, quarterback: Passed for 1,710 yards and 23 TDs while running for 526 yards and 13 TDs. Committed to Army.

Tim Harkins, Mount Carmel, senior, lineman: Key blocker for offense that averaged 37 points.

Brandon Johnson Jr., St. Rita, junior, running back: Ran for 1,184 yards and 20 TDs for Class 7A runner-up.

Ethan Posey, Brother Rice, junior, lineman: Division I recruit helped Crusaders average 38 points.

Jayden Schlosser, Oak Lawn, junior, running back: Rushed for 758 yards and 14 TDs. Key blocker for dynamic option attack.

Second Team Defense

Zion Carter, Shepard, senior, lineman: Finished with 49 tackles, 19 for loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles. Honorable mention all-state.

Nate Cole, Richards, senior, linebacker: Contributed 85 tackles, three for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries.

Gavin Conjar, Mount Carmel, senior, defensive back: Finished with 65 tackles, nine for loss, three sacks, two interceptions.

Jackson Dybcio, Lemont, senior, linebacker: Piled up 101 tackles, 14 for loss, two forced fumbles. Added four TD runs. Honorable mention all-state.

Chase Markowicz, Lincoln-Way West, senior, defensive back: Finished with 30 tackles and 10 pass breakups. Added 250 yards receiving and three TDs. Committed to Illinois State.

Nolan Morrill, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, defensive back: Chalked up 60 tackles, three for loss, three interceptions, nine pass breakups. Conference defensive player of the year.

Gavin Neil, Marian Catholic, senior, lineman: Contributed 44 tackles, 14 for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles. Honorable mention all-state. Committed to Boston College.

Charlie Palmer, Lincoln-Way East, junior, defensive back/linebacker: Finished with 95 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Sean Rice, St. Laurence, junior, linebacker: Piled up 138 tackles and five interceptions. Added four offensive TDs.

Derrick Sparkman, T.F. North, senior, linebacker: Contributed 103 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss, four sacks. Had four interceptions, returning two for TDs.

Parker Zasada, Reavis, senior, lineman: Finished with 52 tackles, 21 for loss, 4 1/2 sacks. Added 10 TD runs. Honorable mention all-state.

Honorable Mention

• Jacob Alexander, Lincoln-Way East, senior, defensive lineman.
• Charlie Barkmeier, Brother Rice, senior, linebacker.
• Antonio Benson Jr., Thornwood, senior, receiver.
• Ryan Boston, Rich Township, senior, linebacker.
• Daniel Chopp, Oak Forest, senior, quarterback.
• Justin Cobbs, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, running back.
• Israel Easley, St. Rita, senior, defensive lineman.
• Noah Escobedo, Richards, senior, quarterback.
• Omarrion Evans, Evergreen Park, senior, athlete.
• Blake Garrigan, Providence, senior, defensive back.
• Jaylin Green, Brother Rice, senior, running back.
• Brayden Guzak, Andrew, senior, linebacker.
• Demarion Hampton, Eisenhower, senior, quarterback.
• Aiden Hennings, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, defensive lineman.
• Dominic Infelise, Providence, senior, defensive lineman.
• Reilly Kliros, Lincoln-Way West, senior, offensive lineman.
• Blaise LaVista, Lincoln-Way East, senior, receiver.
• Jonathan Lewis, Bremen, senior, linebacker.
• Jayden Lucas, Hillcrest, senior, defensive back.
• Camden Maniatis, Andrew, senior, quarterback.
• William McMaster, Oak Forest, senior, running back.
• Brendan Mecher, Lockport, senior, quarterback.
• Chris Miller, Lockport, senior, running back.
• Derrick Pomatto, Joliet Catholic, junior, linebacker.
• Nasir Rankin, Morgan Park, senior, receiver.
• Pierre Ray, Richards, sophomore, defensive back.
• Aiden Rudman, Lemont, senior, running back.
• Saul Ruiz, St. Rita, senior, kicker/punter.
• Patrick Sammon, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, offensive lineman.
• Vincent Smith, Sandburg, senior, defensive back.
• Alex Soto, Oak Lawn, senior, running back.
• Marshaun Thornton, Mount Carmel, sophomore, receiver.
• Grant Tustin, Lincoln-Way West, senior, quarterback.
• Matt Williams, St. Laurence, senior, defensive back/receiver.
• Stephen Winkler, Mount Carmel, senior, linebacker/tight end.

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