Vote for athlete to win $5,000 for college

Nine high school football players are competing against each other but they are nowhere near a football field.

This time, the winner will be decided only by votes.

And this time, they are competing for money to help go to college.

Libertyville Chevrolet will present a $5,000 college scholarship Saturday to the student athlete who earns the most votes. Voting ends at 5 p.m. today.

The competitors are Carmel quarterback David Venegoni; Grant quarterback Pavel Zurkowski; Lakes wide receiver Kevin Guirand; Libertyville kicker Alvaro Castro and linebacker Andrew Jones; Lake Zurich running back Jon Janus and linebacker Brent Marks; Stevenson wide receiver Michael Bilton; and Warren running back Greg Kennedy.

Individuals can vote online, in person or by sending a text message.

The competitors were all selected Players of the Game during the game by Brian Chimino, play-by-play announcer, and Daryl Bellows, color commentator on WKRS 1220.

To be named Players of the Game, these athletes played a consistent game or made a play that decided the game, Chimino said. The weekly recognition was a collaboration between 1220WKRS and the Daily Herald.

For example, Marks made a leaping interception in the red zone near the end of the fourth quarter to seal Lake Zurich's victory against Stevenson 16-7 on Sept. 7.

And on Sept. 21, Zurkowski, who had 22 rushes for 148 yards, ran in all three of his team's touchdowns as part of Grant's 21-17 victory over Wauconda.

"Any one of these players stood out when their team needed it most," Chimino said. "The kids are not afraid to step up. They are the main reason why their team won."

For Libertyville Chevrolet, which opened two years ago, the scholarship is a nice way to get more involved in the community, principal owner Jim Spellman said.

"High school football is a big thing in Lake County," he said.

Spellman said the scholarship will hopefully help one of these athletes get to college.

"It is hard enough to go through high school but to do a sport along with it," he said. "It will help them get into college."

The winner will be announced live on WKRS 1220 AM at 2 p.m. Saturday and online at www.wkrs.com.