Football: Week 1 MVPs

Mundelein senior quarterback Colten Fisher and Wheaton Warrenville South senior defensive end Solomon Jackson have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for their football performances in Week 1.

OFFENSE

Colten Fisher, Mundelein: Rarely has the Mustangs' offense been better. Rarely has a Mustang been better. Fisher, a senior quarterback, rushed 26 times for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns in a season-opening 49-25 win over Larkin, snapping the Mustangs' 17-game losing streak. He also completed 10 of 17 passes for 158 yards and a TD.

Phil Abruzino, Glenbard East: Abruzino, a two-year starting quarterback, accounted for 405 yards of offense in a 42-21 win over Willowbrook. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior completed 22 of 33 passes for 344 yards and touchdown passes of 18 and 22 yards. He added 61 yards rushing with an 8-yard touchdown run.

Tommy Jackson, Hersey: The Huskies' quarterback made quite a splash in his home debut, completing 17 of 26 passes for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions to help Hersey outscore Highland Park 41-34 in Arlington Heights.

Kyle Niemiec, Batavia: Batavia's 20-0 lead had been trimmed to 20-14 in the third quarter when this senior signal caller connected with receiver Cole Stokke for a 54-yard gain on third-and-18 from his own 12. The big gain set up the first of Niemiec's 2 second-half touchdown passes. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback helped the Bulldogs avenge last season's last-second loss to Oswego by completing 21 of 34 passes for 266 yards and 2 scores.

DEFENSE

Solomon Jackson, Wheaton Warrenville South: The Tigers' defense stood tall in a 10-7 double-overtime DuPage Valley Conference victory over Wheaton North, and no one stood taller than 6-foot-4, 223-pound senior defensive end. Jackson was a quarterback menace all game, notching 2 sacks and 6 hurries among his 14 tackles.

Mardochee Kamanga, Antioch: Trailing 13-7 at halftime of their season opener against host Kenosha Tremper, the Sequoits were in need of a spark. They got it from their senior outside linebacker, who returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. The Sequoits scored 45 second-half points and won 52-20.

Michael Kruse, Hampshire: A three-year varsity performer, this safety accounted for 2 of Hampshire's 3 interceptions against rival Burlington Central in a 27-9 season-opening victory. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior also made 2 tackles for a defense that held the Rockets to 9 points and 241 total yards.

Joe Novak, Conant: This 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior linebacker typified a strong team effort in a 25-22 victory over Bartlett in Week 1. Novak finished with 6 solo tackles, 4 assists, 1 sack and 2 more tackles for loss as Conant forced 4 turnovers.