Lake County all-area football team

Jeremy Birck Libertyville

Large target. Large numbers. And consider it absolutely huge that this season the 6-foot-5, 180-pound senior broke school records held by current Houston Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter. “Anytime we needed a first down, a score, or a big play, Jeremy was our go-to guy,” coach Randy Kuceyeski said. “Through a lot of hard work, he developed into one of the best receivers in the (Chicago) area. He was virtually unstoppable when defenses covered him one on one.” Birck hauled in 59 receptions for 847 yards (14.4 average) and 14 touchdowns. He also caught a pair of conversion tosses. Last spring, he earned a sixth-place state medal in the high jump. “Jeremy's biggest asset was his ability to go up after a ball by using his great jumping ability and athleticism,” Kuceyeski said. “He was a fantastic receiver to have in the spread attack.”

Jacob Brinlee Lake Zurich

Brinlee ran up the yardage all season, but the senior running back saved his most prolific performance for last. In the Class 7A state championship game against Wheaton Warrenville South, Brinlee rolled up 226 yards on 33 carries for nearly 7 yards per carry. His effort was so good that it set a Class 7A state title game record for most rushing yards. Brinlee also leaves Lake Zurich as the Bears' all-time rushing leader with 3,487 yards and ranks second on the all-time scoring list. “Anytime you get records like that, it says a lot about your career,” coach Bryan Stortz said. “Those are really amazing accomplishments for a kid that really carried the ball for only two full years. And the thing about Jacob is that he did it quietly. He had some explosive games like he did in the state title game, but mostly, it was him getting one 100-yard rushing game after another. He just got the job done every game.” This season, Brinlee, the captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County All-Area team, rolled up 1,703 yards on 215 carries and scored 14 touchdowns.

Michael Crowley Stevenson

With more than 4,000 students, Stevenson almost never has trouble finding enough players to field a football team that can strictly two-platoon. Yet, the coaching staff couldn't imagine not utilizing Crowley on both sides of the football. “He's such a gifted football player because he has both size (6 feet 3, 250 pounds) and speed,” coach Bill McNamara said of the senior offensive and defensive lineman. “He was our only two-way starter and we just felt that he was our stabilizing force in the trenches on both sides.” On defense, Crowley rolled up 42 tackles, including 12 for loss. Meanwhile, he was the right tackle on the offensive line, which paved the way for nearly 4,200 yards of offense, including more than 2,400 on the ground.

DaVaris Daniels Vernon Hills

Daniels was brought up to the varsity five games into his freshman year. It didn't take long for people to start talking about the freshman phenom at Vernon Hills. The first time he touched the ball on varsity was the opening kickoff in the Cougars' Week-5 game against Round Lake. He went untouched for a 93-yard touchdown. “You talk about making a splash,” coach Tony Monken said. “I don't think you can top that. From that moment on, it seemed like everyone was talking about DaVaris and every defense knew exactly where he was on the field at all times.” And Daniels, who also gained the attention of big-time recruiters and made headlines when he chose Notre Dame this fall, was just about everywhere. Over the course of his career, the three-time all-area pick played just about every position besides lineman. He was primarily a receiver and a cornerback, but also played enough quarterback to rank seventh on the school's all-time passing list. Speaking of records, Daniels leaves Vernon Hills as the all-time leader in scoring, receiving, interceptions and all-purpose yardage. “He's just very, very special,” Monken said of Daniels, who was named to the all-state team. “There are a lot of great things about him, starting with the fact that he's just such a great kid. But the thing that probably sets him apart the most is that there are a lot of fast people. But there aren't a lot of tall, fast people. At 6-foot-3 with a 4.3 or 4.4 40 time and a 41 ½ vertical, there aren't a lot of people in the world like him.” This season, Daniels caught 23 passes for 513 yards and 5 touchdowns, ran for 637 yards and 10 touchdowns and also picked up 6 interceptions. He tallied 19 touchdowns overall.

Kevin Earl Stevenson

Coach Bill McNamara says that one of Earl's best attributes is his ability to stay composed under pressure. Even the most intense pressure. That was never more evident than during the regular season when the senior quarterback came through in a major way during the waning minutes of the Lake Zurich game. With Stevenson trailing with two minutes remaining, Earl calmly drove the offense 80 yards downfield, completing several crucial passes. The Patriots wound up scoring with only seconds remaining to get a one-point victory. “I'll always remember that Lake Zurich game and the way Kevin just took control of our offense,” McNamara said. “He never panicked, he had a very calm demeanor and that's the way he was the entire season even in the toughest situations.” Earl completed 107 of 207 passes for 1,715 yards and 12 touchdowns. “Kevin is an accurate passer,” McNamara said. “He throws the ball downfield with good timing, precision and pace.”

Gary Eppinger Warren

With all the statistics and media attention that offensive players rack up, it's easy for defensive players to get overshadowed. But that wasn't the case this year at Warren, thanks to Eppinger. The senior linebacker was named the most valuable player of the team. “We've had a lot of great tailbacks over the years who get a lot of attention and awards like team MVP and things like that,” coach Dave Mohapp said. “So it's a bit unusual for a defensive player to be MVP. But Gary had such a great year. He was so impressive. He was good last year, but you just saw something different in him this year. As soon as our off-season workouts started last year after Thanksgiving, he was working out hard, with a purpose. This football season was so important to him and he really put the time in. He ended up getting a lot stronger and more physical and it really helped his game. He just hit the heck out of people.” The Blue Devils even used him as a fullback in short-yardage situations and he scored 2 touchdowns. Eppinger finished with 84 tackles, including 5 sacks. He also had 2 interceptions.

Michael Fitzgibbons Carmel Catholic

He plays basketball and volleyball, too, which makes sense considering his 6-foot-4, 170-pound frame. He's also a son of a football coach. “He's not all that fast and doesn't look all that strong,” said Andy Bitto, who replaced Mike Fitzgibbons as Carmel's head football coach in 1998 and has Fitzgibbons on his staff. “But when he hits people,” Bitto continued of Michael Fitzgibbons, “he knocks them down. He's a football player.” A ball boy on Carmel's 2003 state championship team, Fitzgibbons still was going after the ball this season. The safety, who also played some cornerback and outside linebacker, had 7 interceptions and 3 tackles for loss. “He also knocked down 10-15 balls,” Bitto said. “He's smart. He really studied the game plan. He was never out of position.” No matter which position he was playing.

Matt Goad Warren

Just a junior, Goad is already a savvy veteran. Last year as a sophomore, he started at linebacker for the varsity. This year, he began the season starting at free safety and then finished the year back at linebacker, where he once again thrived. Goad led Warren in tackles with 106. He also registered a sack. His best game came against Lake Zurich, as he finished with 19 tackles. “We moved Matt to free safety just because we wanted more speed on the outside,” coach Dave Mohapp said. “But we were really missing having him at linebacker so we moved him back. That's one of the nice things about Matt, how versatile he is. He's got very good speed and a good understanding of the game from multiple positions. I think the potential for Matt at the next level is very good.”

Vinnie Holm Antioch

Call him the reigning “Mr. Antioch Football.” “Vinnie has been the Antioch Football program ... at least since I've been here,” said coach Brian Glashagel, who's ratcheted up the program since his arrival in 2007. Holm was a member of Antioch's team that reached the Class 6A state semifinals in 2008, and the senior was fixture in the backfield until tearing his ACL prior the Sequoits' regular-season finale this year. “As a runner, simply one of the area's best for the past three years,” Glashagel said. “As a kicker, one of the best, if not the best, for the past three years. He's a winner.” In helping the Sequoits post a third straight winning season, Holm rushed for 759 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, kicked 32 PATs and became the school's all-time leading scorer. “He has provided ACHS and myself with some of our greatest football moments,” Glashagel said. “He has been our ultimate weapon running for touchdowns, kicking field goals, scoring points. And probably lost in everything, (he's) a tremendous blocker. ... He is simply one of the greatest Sequoits of all time.”

Brian Kent Wauconda

His accurate throws and long runs out of the Bulldogs' spread option came as no surprise, not after the senior's strong finish to last season. What Wauconda fans also saw this fall was Kent's toughness. He sprained his knee against Grant and was on crutches at game's end. The next week, he played. He never missed a game. “Brian is a special player,” coach Dave Mills said. “He has always loved playing football. He has the ability to run or pass, so he is a double threat on the field. He has all the intangibles that make great football players. He is smart, works hard and practices hard. His ability to make a defensive player miss or run over a tackler made him difficult to defend when he ran. His arm strength gave him the chance to look over a field and know that he could throw to any receiver anywhere on the field.” Kent threw for 1,526 yards and 14 touchdowns, completing 53 percent of his 169 passing attempts. He also led the Bulldogs with 755 rushing yards and 13 TDs. “The best thing about Brian,” Mills said, “is he is always working at getting better.”

Jordan Kos Carmel Catholic

The Corsairs' fullback was Kos-effective. “Of all the kids I've coached at the position, he's one of the best,” coach Andy Bitto said. Kos flirted with a 1,000-yard season as a sophomore on varsity last year, rushing for 919 yards. He cleared that plateau easily this season, gaining 1,367 yards. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior averaged 8.1 yards per carry, while scoring 16 touchdowns to give him 26 in two seasons. He made the all-East Suburban Catholic Conference team for the second year in a row. “He can get short yardage for a first down and he can break a long one,” said Bitto, who also used Kos to return punts and kicks. “He's a good receiver, too, even though we didn't use him in that role. If he keeps working on his blocking, he's going to be a complete back.”

Tyler Lees Carmel Catholic

A late-season shoulder injury, which required surgery, robbed Lees of a varsity promotion for the playoffs last year. He made up for lost time. The junior inside linebacker showed a nose for the football, piling up a team-leading 121 tackles, including 58 solos, for a squad that yielded just 140 points in 12 games. He also recorded 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and an interception. “He just makes plays,” coach Andy Bitto said. “You'd look at the stats and see he had 12 tackles and you'd be like, ‘OK.' Then you'd watch the tape. He's everywhere. He's a hard hitter and he just makes tackles.”

Tom Lindal Warren

Lindal leaves Warren in very good company. “Since I've been here at Warren, we've had running backs like Matt Van Daele, Mitchell Moore and Greg Kennedy, just some really great backs,” coach Dave Mohapp said. “I'd put Tom right up there with those guys in terms of what kind of impact he's had on our program.” Lindal was a three-year starter in the backfield for the Blue Devils and three-time all-area player who rolled up nearly 2,900 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. This year, he rushed for 800 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. “He didn't get as many rushing yards this year as he did in previous years, but I thought he had his best year because he became a more complete player,” Mohapp said. “He not only showed his ability to run the ball, but he also greatly improved his blocking and he was also our leading receiver.” Lindal had 14 catches for 193 yards.

Jack Lynn Lake Zurich

Lynn is definitely a Jack-of-all-trades. “The nice thing about Jack is that he could honestly play five or six different positions for us,” coach Bryan Stortz said. Lynn played primarily linebacker. As a junior and second-year varsity player, he already is 15th on the team's all-time tackles list. “But he was also our best receiver and can just do so many things,” Stortz said. “He's 6 feet 3 and has nice size, but what makes Jack good is that he is very quick. He's got great lateral movement and closing speed.” Lynn finished with 63 tackles and 2 sacks. He rolled up a season-high 11 tackles against Libertyville. On offense, he caught a team-high 12 passes for 125 yards. “Jack is just so versatile and we're glad we've got him back next year,” Stortz said.

Steven Niewiedzial Grant

When the senior captain lined up at fullback, it wasn't even-steven. Steven gave the Bulldogs an edge. “Steven was the heart and soul of our offense,” coach Kurt Rous said. “If Steven had a good game rushing, chances are we won. Even when teams were keying on Steven, he was still able to get yards.” It was tougher to tackle Niewiedzial than pronounce his last name. No player in the county rushed for more yards during the regular season. He finished with 1,403 rushing yards (7.1 per carry) and 18 touchdowns for the playoff-qualifying Bulldogs. He also punted and kicked. When QB Leo Minne got hurt against Wauconda, Niewiedzial took over, racking up 242 rushing yards and scoring 3 TDs. It was nothing fancy. “He ran tough,” Rous said. “All of his yards came from rushing up the middle.”

Brian Palmer Vernon Hills

With two Division I recruits on the Vernon Hills roster in DaVaris Daniels and Evan Spencer, opposing defenses were tempted to focus their attention there. But they couldn't, otherwise Palmer would make them pay. And he often did anyway. The senior running back was a workhorse for the Cougars, rolling up 771 yards and 12 touchdowns on 138 carries. “He was the perfect counter, the perfect balance to Daniels and Spencer,” coach Tony Monken said. “If you focused on those two, Palmer went wild.” Monken said that last year, he nicknamed Palmer “The Bus” after retired NFL star running back Jerome Bettis. “His running style really reminds me of Bettis,” Monken said. “When he makes contact, his legs just keep going. It's rare that one guy can bring him down.” Palmer had no trouble bringing other guys down. He also played defense for the Cougars as a linebacker. He led the team with 72 tackles, including 3 sacks.

John Pfeiffer Lakes

Opponents couldn't outmuscle him, and no way could they outsmart him. So they tried to avoid him. Which didn't always work. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive tackle recorded 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries, despite missing one game and part of another due to injury. Coach Luke Mertens, whose Eagles made the state playoffs, considered those “outstanding stats considering most teams ran away from his side.” Few are smarter than Pfeiffer, who was named academic all-state and is a two-time academic all-conference selection. Mertens said the A student is choosing between Harvard, Brown, Yale and Penn. Mertens also called the team captain “one of the hardest workers on our team.”

Brett Prather Antioch

Praise Prather. “Brett has worked for everything he's gotten,” coach Brian Glashagel said of the team captain, wide receiver and conference sportsmanship award winner. “He has turned himself into one of the top wide receivers in the area. He has great hands and is one of the greatest route runners I've ever coached.” Plagued with a bad hamstring a year ago, Prather hit the weights hard, Glashagel said, which in turn dropped his 40-yard dash time to 4.5 seconds and made him a more physical blocker. Despite playing in a triple-option offense, Prather caught 28 passes for 518 yards and 10 touchdowns. He shows a good grasp in the classroom, too. “His football skills along with his 32 ACT and 4.4/4.0 GPA,” Glashagel said, “are going to most likely take him to the East Coast.”

Quinton Quarles Grant

Forget any technical definition, the Bulldogs had their own “Q-Factor,” which was quality. Quinton Quarles could cause QBs to quiver quite quickly. The junior defensive tackle set school records for tackles for loss in a game (11) and season (26). He led Grant with 86 total tackles. Against Vernon Hills, Quarles had what coach Kurt Rous called “the game of his life” with 20 stops, including those 11 TFLs. In the Bulldogs' homecoming win over Mundelein, Quarles blocked a field goal and notched 2 TFLs. Quarles had no quit. “Quinton was a dominating force on defense in most every game,” Rous said. “He has a unique combination of speed, strength and size (6 feet 3, 225 pounds), and the best part is he is only a junior.” Who could quarrel about that Quarles quote?

J.J. Raffelson Lake Zurich

Raffelson was an opposing quarterback's worst nightmare. The senior middle linebacker set a school record with 12 sacks, rolling up a season-high five against Warren. “J.J. has the unique combination of size (6 feet 3, 215 pounds), speed and football instincts,” coach Bryan Stortz said. “He has the ability to read and react as quickly as any player we've had. And the amount of time he put in to studying the game this year through films was tremendous. It made him even better.” Raffelson finished the season with a team-high 116 tackles as well as 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. He rolled up a season-high 15 tackles against Cary-Grove. Raffelson is hearing from multiple college recruiters and has already been offered a scholarship by Western Illinois.

Steve Sass Grayslake North

Opposing ballcarriers didn't want to sass Sass. Heck, the senior nose tackle played angrily enough. He routinely took on double- and even triple-teams and was still a force, said coach Steve Wood, whose Knights enjoyed their first winning season (5-4) in the program's five-year history. Sass' 40 tackles included a hefty 16 for loss and 5 sacks. “We're going to find out just how good he is when he's not here next year,” Wood said. “I know he's pretty good. Talking to some of the teams in the area at our all-conference meeting, they really had to game-plan for him. He's a difference-maker on the field.” And don't let Sass' 6-foot, 290-pound frame fool you. “He's really quick and powerful for a kid his size,” Wood said. Opposing ballcarriers know.

A.J. Schurr Libertyville

Schurr sure did a lot. Ran. Threw. Darted. Scrambled. Kicked. Punted. Tackled. Intercepted Stevenson all-area QB Kevin Earl (something few guys did). What Schurr did best was play quarterback. “We implemented the spread offense with A.J.'s athleticism in mind,” coach Randy Kuceyeski said. “He did everything we wanted him to do and a lot more. He was a threat to score any time he had his hands on the ball.” Named to the Class 7A all-state team, Schurr was the county's most prolific QB, throwing for 2,227 yards and 21 touchdowns, while completing 58 percent of his 246 passes and breaking “every (Libertyville) passing record in the book,” Kuceyeski said. Schurr also rushed for a team-high 468 yards and 11 TDs, and punted 26 times for a 37.1-yard average. “He was what made our offense go in every game,” Kuceyeski said of his two-year starter. “A.J. was a warrior throughout the year, and he truly exemplified Wildcat Football in every way throughout his career, both on and off the field.”

Evan Spencer Vernon Hills

Not to be outdone by his best friend and teammate DaVaris Daniels, a prized Notre Dame recruit, Spencer worked himself into a major Division I prospect as well. Before the season, Spencer committed to Ohio State, which is where his father played and coached football before joining the coaching staff of the Chicago Bears. “Ohio State is going to love Evan,” coach Tony Monken said. “Evan's development didn't come as quickly as DaVaris's did, but once it did come, it just all really came together. Last year, Evan matured physically and got stronger and he had a breakout year that just continued into this year. His game really came on and just like DaVaris, he did so much for us, almost to the point that besides a few quick breaks to get some water, he never came off the field.” Spencer played in the defensive secondary and returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns. Meanwhile, he played wide receiver and running back and also returned kicks and punts. “He scored every way you could,” Monken said. “It's hard to bring him down and he got faster and faster with each stride.” Spencer scored a total of 19 touchdowns, 8 rushing and 6 receiving. He rolled up 410 receiving yards on 23 catches and 266 rushing yards on 33 carries. A repeat all-area choice, he was also named all-state.

C.J. Stempeck Grayslake Central

See C.J. catch. See C.J. tackle. See C.J. stand tall, on the football field and in the classroom. The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder excelled at tight end and defensive end, helping the Rams secure a state playoff berth for the first time since 2003 and then advance to Round 2. A team captain, he was named team MVP. “C.J. Stempeck had a great senior season,” coach Nick Goshe said. “We knew in any tough spot we could go to C.J. and that would be our best opportunity for success. He is a leader on and off the field.” An all-Fox Valley Conference pick, Stempeck caught a team-best 18 passes for 323 yards (17.9 average) and 3 touchdowns. He also led the Rams in tackles for loss with 11.5 and notched a sack. He made honorable all-state and academic all-state.

Zach Till Lake Zurich

Last year, Till was Lake Zurich's backup quarterback but took only a few snaps. He started every game at cornerback. But, prior to the start of this season, when it was time for Till to slide over to offense and start at quarterback, he did so seamlessly. “Zach just has a great competitive spirit, plus he's so athletic,” coach Bryan Stortz said. “It's not easy (transitioning to the starting quarterback role), but we had a lot of confidence in Zach.” In fact, the Lake Zurich coaches gained so much confidence in Till that he wound up calling many of the plays for the offense this year. “I'd say in the (Class 7A) state title game (against Wheaton Warrenville South), Zach called at least half the plays himself,” Stortz said. “He's just a really smart and instinctual football player.” Till was a weapon in both the passing and running game. He completed 52 of 99 passes for 718 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also rushed for 433 yards and 8 touchdowns on 119 carries. Till also did some punting and returned punts for the Bears.

Luke Venegoni Carmel Catholic

The only thing more constant than wins on the field for Carmel is a Venegoni. The Corsairs could count on Luke, who finished his career with 34 straight starts on varsity. The brother of former Carmel stars Mark and David, Luke played in 38 varsity games, including four during the 2007 state playoffs. He got better each year, capping this season by earning all-state honors and being named defensive player of the year in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The inside linebacker notched 120 tackles, including a team-best 63 solos, 6 for loss and 2 sacks for the conference champs. He's a repeat all-ESCC selection. “In a lot of ways I thought our defense got overlooked,” coach Andy Bitto said. “But we won the conference because our defense set us up, and Luke was the cornerstone of that. Athletically, he can get from Point A to Point B very quickly. He's also a very good pass defender.” Venegoni ranks fourth on Carmel's all-time tackles list and is being recruited by several schools.

Brion Wood Stevenson

Coaches aren't allowed on the field during the course of play, but Stevenson managed to sneak one on. Kind of. “Having Brion on the field was very much like having a coach on the field,” coach Bill McNamara said of the senior middle linebacker. “He made sure that our guys were ready to play football. He was our leader, our captain on the field. He made all of our defensive calls. Brion is a very competitive player and a very smart player.” Wood, who earns straight A's and will be playing in the Ivy League next year at Penn, was recently named first-team academic all-state. He was also named first-team all-state. Wood rolled up a team-high 130 tackles, including 17 for loss. He also forced 4 fumbles. “He is one of the brightest students at Stevenson High School,” McNamara said. “And he's a great athlete and a great kid with a great personality. Everyday at practice was fun because Brion had a knack for keeping things light and keeping our guys loose.”

Maxx Wujcik Stevenson

Defensive linemen don't regularly get their names called by the public address announcer. But the people who mattered most knew that Wujcik was getting the job done. “Maxx probably wasn't a high visibility guy with the fans, but he was high visibility with us coaches, and definitely with the other teams,” coach Bill McNamara said. “Maxx is the kind of player who quietly creates all kinds of problems for an offense and (as an opposing team), you have to prepare for him. He is quick and strong and really difficult to block, which is why he got by a lot of (offensive linemen). He often required double teams.” Wujcik registered 67 tackles, including 19 for loss. He also had 6 sacks. “Maxx has a fast motor,” McNamara said. “When that ball is snapped, he's going 100 percent on every play.”

Honorable mention

Ricky Acosta (Carmel Catholic, Sr., CB), Donte Arnold (Lakes, Jr., DB/WR), Jon Bash (Stevenson, Sr., C), Mike Beckman (Lakes, Sr., K/TE), Kurtis Boyd (Grayslake North, Sr., DB/RB), Marcus Bradford (Vernon Hills, Sr., DB/RB), Joe Cassata (Stevenson, Sr., RB), Mike Cohen (Carmel Catholic, Sr., DE), Gus Coon (Lake Zurich, Sr., OL), Vinnie Culhane (Grayslake Central, Sr., RB), Nick Celeslie (Grayslake Central, Sr., OL), Wayne Didier (Vernon Hills, Jr., OG/DT), Mike Donofrio (Vernon Hills, Sr., C), Brandon Dorsey (Wauconda, Sr., WR), Chris Duffey (Stevenson, Sr., CB), David Gahgan (Grant, Sr., DT), George Gonzalez (Antioch, Jr. DB), Brandon Grant (Lakes, Sr., DL), Sam Green (Antioch, Sr., FB), Jacoby Griffin (Round Lake, Sr., RB/S), William Hussey (Lake Zurich, Jr., DL), Matt Jacobsen (Libertyville, Sr., OG), Adnan Khan (Grayslake North, Sr., TE), Logan Lester (Carmel Catholic, Sr., OL), Chris Loeffl (Grayslake Central, Sr., LB), Cedric Lyons (Vernon Hills, Sr., OG/DT), Zak Lowe (Warren, Sr., OL), Pablo Mata (Mundelein, Sr., FB), Kiah McGee (Lake Zurich, Sr., DL), Tyler Menheer (Lakes, Sr., LB), Austin Miller (Vernon Hills, Sr., LB/TE), Leo Minne (Grant, Sr., QB/RB), Luke Mueller (Lake Zurich, Sr., DL), Patrick Mulroy (Carmel Catholic, Sr., TE), Cam Neely (Grayslake Central, Sr., DB), Jahard Nelson (Grayslake Central, Sr., RB), Matt O'Donnell (Grant, Sr., LB), Michael Panico (Carmel Catholic, Jr., RB), Josh Pohlman (Lakes, Sr., DB/WR), Jimmie Prince (Grayslake North, Jr., FB/LB), Stephen Salata (Stevenson, Sr., WR), Tim Sayre (Lake Zurich, Sr., SS/RB), Brady Schmidt (Libertyville, Sr., OT), Tom Sears (Antioch, Sr., QB), Brian Serio (Carmel Catholic, Sr., QB), Mike Shield (Lake Zurich, Jr., RB/SS), Hector Silva (Grayslake North, Sr., LB), Jimmy Soto (Grayslake Central, Sr., NT), Joe Squaglia (Stevenson, Sr., LB), Brandon Tyler (Warren, Sr., DB), Kurtis Vepley (Antioch, Sr., DB), Quinn Watters (Grant, Sr., DB), Jake Ziolkowski (Wauconda, Jr., WR)

Past captains

2009: Mark Weisman (Stevenson FB)

2008: Cameron White (Antioch RB)

2007: Jon Janus (Lake Zurich RB/LB)

2006: Ryan Kennedy (Libertyville QB)

2005: Mike Morrissey (Stevenson LB)

2004: Jake Gaebler (Mundelein RB)

2003: Santino Panico (Libertyville RB), Mark Venegoni (Carmel Catholic QB)

2002: Bobby Giannini (Stevenson QB)

2001: Matt Roe (Carmel Catholic QB), Eric Luna (Carmel Catholic RB)