Week 1 Football MVPs and Players of the Week
Presenting the Daily Herald Football MVPs and players of the week for Week 1.
DEFENSIVE MVP Austin Higgins Batavia Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron exclaimed the senior linebacker was "everywhere" in Batavia's 36-7 win over Marmion. The 6-foot, 175-pound Higgins made 8 solo tackles and added 4 assists, a sack and 2 passes defended. Plus, he provided the Bulldogs with a 24-0 lead by returning an interception 36 yards for a touchdown.
OFFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Sean Havlovic Fenton The Bison notched a 30-29 win over Leyden behind their 6-foot-2, 165-pound senior quarterback. Havlovic completed 19 of 34 passes for 309 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He rallied Fenton with two fourth-quarter scoring passes and ran in the go-ahead 2-point conversion after his pass was tipped back to him.
OFFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Dennis Moore Elgin This 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior enjoyed a memorable night in his first game as Elgin's featured tailback. He carried 18 times for 181 yards, including touchdown bursts of 80 and 50 yards. Moore, who has gained interest from Mid-American Conference programs, also returned a kickoff 99 yards for another touchdown.
OFFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Jake Ziolkowski Wauconda New quarterback, same old results for the veteran wide receiver. A four-year varsity player, Ziolkowski caught 6 passes for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Bulldogs' season-opening, 36-14 win at Woodstock. His TD grabs from transfer Branden Rowe covered 52 and 21 yards.
OFFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Anthony Maddie Aurora Christian Helping the host Eagles rally from a 20-14 halftime deficit, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound senior quarterback ran for 2 second-half touchdowns and threw for a third in a 38-20 win over defending 3A champion Stillman Valley. Maddie, bound for Western Michigan, completed 21 of 27 passes for 274 yards, 2 touchdowns; and ran for 64 yards, 3 touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Nick Jones Grant Nick nicked him. Tackled him. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior defensive tackle kept getting to Johnsburg's quarterback on Opening Night. Jones registered 2½ sacks, propelling a defensive effort that helped the Bulldogs post a 42-0 victory.
DEFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Evan Finnane St. Edward This 6-foot-2, 255-pound senior demonstrated why he has offers from Air Force and Army in St. Edward's 21-0 season-opening victory over Genoa-Kingston. The two-way lineman registered 13 tackles, including 2 sacks among his 5 tackles for a loss, sparking the Green Wave to a shutout.
DEFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Gustavo Garcia Glenbard East Garcia led a fierce second-half defensive effort from the Rams, who held Willowbrook scoreless for the final two quarters of a 35-14 Glenbard East win. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound junior linebacker had 10 tackles and 3 sacks, including one that forced a fumble. Garcia also snared an interception at the start of the second half.
DEFENSIVE RUNNER-UP Ismael Najera Hersey Hersey faced a big opening test against defending Central Suburban North champion Glenbrook North. Najera, a senior defensive lineman, made sure the Huskies aced a 21-14 victory with 3 tackles, 4 assists, a tackle for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and 2 quarterback hurries.
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