Week 1 recap: How Chicagoland high school football teams fared
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Here’s how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in Week 1 of play.
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Providence 28, St. Rita 21
Providence’s Brayden McKay is a throwback talent with a single-minded purpose. And the senior running back has a knack for making plays in every conceivable way.
“I’m one of those guys where it’s a tough situation and I want the ball in my hands,” he said. “When they called for me to get the ball, I was ready and I knew I was going to score.”
McKay rushed for two touchdowns Friday night, leading the Celtics to a hard-fought 28-21 victory over host St. Rita in a Catholic League crossover game in Chicago.
Lincoln-Way East 22, Brother Rice 21
Junior Evan LeFevour won Lincoln-Way East’s quarterback competition in the preseason. The prize? Becoming the successor to Jonas Williams, the state’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns who is now playing at USC.
“There’s always expectations, but I was ready to fill my own shoes,” LeFevour said. “Not be anyone else. I just want to be myself. I’m not trying to emulate anyone else.
“I’m just ready to go.”
He sure was on Friday night. LeFevour threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a huge 62-yard strike to Landon Martinez on a trick play, as the host Griffins rallied to stun defending Class 7A champion Brother Rice 22-21 in a season opener in Frankfort.
Andrew 21, Oak Forest 18
Teammates and coaches insist that senior running back Landon Paredes can do it all for Andrew. But Paredes believes that he can’t do a thing without a little help from his friends.
They worked well together Friday night.
Paredes, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster, reached the end zone on a 92-yard kickoff return and came through with 29 yards on three carries during the final scoring drive as the host Thunderbolts notched a come-from-behind 21-18 nonconference victory over Oak Forest in Tinley Park.
Batavia 49, Maine South 35
Coming into a matchup against another Division I quarterback, Batavia senior Michael Vander Luitgaren could have easily downplayed the situation.
The Wyoming commit could have said his showdown with Indiana recruit Jameson Purcell and Maine South in Friday night’s season opener wasn’t even on his mind.
Vander Luitgaren actually approached it the opposite way.
St. Charles East 27, Metea Valley 10
Metea Valley senior Tito Ajibola, a tight end/linebacker, made his first career start Friday night and shined on both sides of the ball during the Mustangs’ 27-10 season-opening road loss against St. Charles East.
He was one of the bright spots on defense and also led the team in receiving, finishing with five catches for 102 yards and the Mustangs’ only touchdown.
Zion-Benton 61, North Chicago 12
Having entertained offers from Football Bowl Subdivision programs, Zion-Benton senior running back Jamere French intends to be a dominant force this season.
But French won’t be satisfied with that if the Zee-Bees don’t qualify for the playoffs.
“I don’t plan on losing to anyone the rest of the way, honestly. I’m definitely looking to take my team to the playoffs and beyond.”
French certainly did his part in the season opener on Friday, rushing for 260 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries as the team routed North Chicago 61-12 on the road.
Crown Point 42, Lowell 7
Crown Point senior Ethan Ziolkowski has earned the confidence and belief of coaches and teammates alike.
Ziolkowski, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound wide receiver, showed why during the season opener against visiting Lowell on Friday.
Geneva 28, Libertyville 14
The fastest teenager in Illinois high school football put the rest of the state on notice in Week 1.
Bennett Konkey opened the season with a 100-yard kickoff return, followed it up with a 70-yard touchdown catch on his first offensive snap and later took a 49-yard screen pass streaking down the sideline for six more points.
It all happened in the first eight minutes of the game.
Hersey 38, Carmel 22
Here’s the issue with teams trying to deal with Hersey this season.
Late in the first half Friday, Carmel’s defense had the Huskies backed up deep in their own end. Then suddenly, a 44-yard pass to Dom Wentink, followed by 33 yards to Josh Riggs, and Hersey was in control of the game.
Hersey quarterback Jake Nawrot, a Kentucky commit, threw for 273 yards and the Huskies opened the season with a 38-22 nonconference victory over Carmel.
Wheaton Warrenville South 27, Naperville Central 7
Like Wheaton Warrenville South football coach Sean Norris said before the season opener on Friday, it was like the old DuPage Valley Conference days.
The Tigers’ 27-7 win over Naperville Central at Red Grange Field in Wheaton marked the first time the former conference foes had faced each other since the 2017 season, the last time both were in the DVC.
Prospect 31, Stevenson 10
Prospect senior Matthew Donnelly has an offer on the table to compete for Yale after graduation, and he says he’s seriously considering it.
If it happens, the Ivy League school will be getting not only one smart kid, but also a terrific football player.
Friday night in the season opener at Stevenson, Donnelly paced his team to a 31-10 nonconference win. He rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns, with two on runs from scrimmage, including a 62-yard scamper, and also a long kickoff return.
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