Football MVPs / Week 2
Senior wideout Leon Thornton III of Montini and senior defensive end Patrick O'Connell of Stevenson have been named Daily Herald MVPs for their performances in Week 2 of the high school football season.
Thornton, an Indiana recruit, caught 13 passes for 189 yards including 3 TDs in a 46-32 victory over East St. Louis.
O'Connell made 5 tackles for loss, including 2½ quarterback sacks, as Stevenson topped Homewood-Flossmoor 33-24.
OFFENSE
Leon Thornton III, Montini: The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior receiver helped put away East St. Louis in Montini's 46-32 nonconference win. The Indiana recruit caught 13 passes for 189 yards with touchdowns of 26, 31 and 26 yards. Nine of his catches went for scores or first downs. He added 100 yards returning kickoffs and punts.
Jake Balliu, Lakes: The three-sport senior continues to show off his versatility. In helping the Eagles defeat Woodstock North 30-17, the wide receiver/running back carried 13 times for 141 yards, scoring on a 64-yard run. He also caught 3 passes, which included a touchdown of 16 yards.
Chris Cornelius, Palatine: The Pirates senior both started and finished the scoring in Palatine's 41-19 victory over Rolling Meadows. He ended up with 190 yards on 19 carries, most of it coming on a 65-yard TD run in the first quarter and a 68-yard burst in the fourth.
Jake Marczuk, Kaneland: It was smooth sailing in this junior's second career start as the Knights' quarterback. Leading the team to a 49-6 nonconference win over Marshall, the 5-foot-10, 165-pounder completed 21 of 27 passes for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also ran for 27 yards with an 11-yard touchdown run.
Tyler Pennington, Cary-Grove: Playing at 2013 Class 7A runner-up Lake Zurich, this sophomore fullback chewed up 164 yards and plenty of time off the scoreboard. Pennington (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) scored the game's first touchdown on a 5-yard run. He carried 25 times to lead the top-ranked team in Class 7A to a 24-7 victory.
DEFENSE
Patrick O'Connell, Stevenson: Oh, what a game for O'Connell, who's been sidelined much of the last two seasons due to injuries. In helping the Patriots rally for a 33-24 road win at Homewood-Flossmoor, the senior defensive end piled up 5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks. He had 8 solo tackles and 4 assisted stops.
Dan Danek, Bartlett: This 6-foot-3, 245-pound inside linebacker and fullback was a key figure in Bartlett's 3-0 victory at Niles Notre Dame. Called "a great communicator" and a "coach on the field" by Bartlett coach Tom Meaney, this senior not only ran the ball twice for 8 yards and blocked on approximately 25 offensive plays, he led the defense to its first shutout since the 2012 playoffs by registering a team-high 10 tackles and a sack.
Matt Loberg, Geneva: A 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior defensive end, Loberg was a constant thorn in Richards' side during Geneva's 22-19 win over the Class 6A runners-up. Loberg made 10 tackles, more than half on Richards' side of the ball. Loberg was credited with 3 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass knock-down.
Jake McCabe, Waubonsie Valley: This 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior defensive back confounded Oswego on the blitz and in pass coverage in the Warriors' 27-20 nonconference win. McCabe made 10 solo tackles with 1 for loss and assisted on 7 other tackles. He broke up 2 passes and, too fast to stop off the edge, blitzed for 2 sacks.
Jake Riportella, Maine West: With the Warriors' Week 2 matchup against visiting Elmwood Park tied 7-7 in the third quarter, Riportella was a difference-maker. The junior's interception and subsequent 36-yard return for a touchdown put Maine West ahead for good as new coach Jason Kradman got his first win at the school in a 30-13 decision.