Football MVPs, Week 8
Daily Herald report
Introducing the Daily Herald’s choices for high school football Most Valuable Players for Week 8 of the regular season, in offense and defense.
Offensive MVPJoey Valdivia, Grayslake Central: On offense, he was no Ordinary Joey. The senior running back piled up school records of 381 yards and 6 touchdowns in helping the Rams run past visiting Grayslake North 44-34. He scored on runs of 48, 67, 3, 9, 65 and 23 yards, as the Rams improved to 7-1.
Offensive runners-upAdolfo Pacheco, South Elgin: This 6-foot, 200-pound running back enjoyed the best day in school history in a 36-21 Upstate Eight Conference crossover victory over against state-ranked Geneva. The senior carried the ball 27 times for a school record 318 yards and scored 4 touchdowns to keep the Storm in playoff contention.
Booker Ross, West Aurora: Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer had stressed the need to run the football. Ross, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior, took it to heart. A two-way starter who has battled injuries all season, Ross ran the football 12 times for 193 yards in a 41-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory over West Chicago. His big gainer was a 94-yard touchdown run.
Ed Scanlon, Wheeling: Scan the field last Friday and it was easy to find Scanlon making a lot happen for Wheeling in a 31-14 win over Buffalo Grove. The senior running back rushed for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 carries, threw several key blocks to spring other big runs and had a tackle for loss on defense.
Jordan Westerkamp, Montini: On his first catch in a 75-0 win over Walther Lutheran, Jordan Westerkamp went 50 yards for the first of his 2 touchdowns. With that catch the 6-foot-1, 200-pound, Nebraska recruit became Illinois#146; all-time reception yardage leader. The senior wideout has 3,623 receiving yards to go with his state-record 53 TD catches.
Defensive MVPPat Clark, Naperville Central: Clark played a major role in Naperville Central#146;s 36-26 cross-town DuPage Valley Conference victory over Naperville North. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior defensive back snared 2 fourth-quarter interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered another fumble. Clark also made 10 tackles, including 8 solo tackles.
Defensive runners-upBlake Holder, Streamwood: Also a fleet-footed wide receiver, this 6-foot-2, 189-pound defensive back was in the right place twice in Streamwood#146;s 22-12 victory over Larkin. Holder made a pair of second-half interceptions on tipped passes, each of which led to fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Sabres secured the school#146;s first playoff berth since 2002.
Joey Salata, Libertyville: On defense, he was no Ordinary Joey. The junior free safety intercepted 2 passes in helping the Wildcats all but officially clinch a playoff berth with a 38-6 victory over visiting Warren. He also recovered a fumble when Warren muffed a punt return.
Jake Sheley, St. Charles East: Turnovers made the difference in the Saints#146; 10-0 Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory over Elgin, and Sheley created 3 of them. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior outside linebacker recovered one fumble in the first half, another in the second, and helped clinch the win with a late interception. Sheley added 6 tackles.
Austin Tixier, Prospect: Tixier was going to make sure Prospect#146;s hopes for a seventh straight playoff appearance weren#146;t sacked by Rolling Meadows. The senior two-way lineman had 3 sacks, 5 tackles, 8 quarterback pressures and 2 forced fumbles in an 18-13 comeback victory.