Football: Fox Valley all-area team

Quinn Baker Cary-Grove

This dynamic playmaker didn’t burst onto the scene as Cary-Grove’s starting triple-option quarterback until Week 4, but he still finished with phenomenal statistics. In 8 games as a starter, including 2 playoff games, he rushed 179 times for 1,103 yards and 18 touchdowns (6.2 avg.). His 108 points led the area. Baker wasn’t asked to pass often, but the all-Fox Valley (Valley) honoree still completed 17 of 49 attempts for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was intercepted once. “He really took over our offense,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “We were struggling to find an identity on offense until he provided a spark. We rode him the rest of the year.”

Justin Banks Larkin

A two-time all-Upstate Eight Conference (River) pick, this 5-foot-8, 150-pound senior led area wide receivers with 48 catches for 858 yards and 7 touchdowns. Defensively, Banks made 48 tackles, forced 3 fumbles and snared 2 interceptions. “He’s an all-around athlete,” Larkin coach Mike Scianna said. “He’s quick as a linebacker and he runs good routes as a wide receiver. His hands are his best attribute. If it was thrown near him, he caught it.”

Josh Beveridge Crystal Lake South

This defensive end blew up opposing game plans every Friday. At 6 feet, 210 pounds, this physical lineman led the stingy CL South defense in sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (14.5). The all-Fox Valley (Valley) pick finished with 29 solo tackles and 24 assists and he forced 2 fumbles. “He’s just a monster,” CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “For a kid a little undersized, he’s going to make some school very happy next year. He gives max effort on every play and performs against bigger kids every time.”

AJ Bilyeu Bartlett

Voted team MVP by his peers, this senior quarterback was also named the Upstate Eight (Valley) Offensive Player of the Year. Committed to Air Force, the senior completed 115 of 200 attempts for 1,851 yards and 23 touchdowns. The athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pound signal caller also carried the ball 54 times for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. “He has a strong arm, he has speed and he’s very intelligent,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “We were lucky to have him for the last three years.” Bilyeu graduates as Bartlett’s all-time leader in passing yards (4,275), completions (315) and touchdown passes (47).

Joel Bouagnon Burlington Central

A 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior, this all-Big Northern (East) selection was a major contributor on both sides of the ball for a team that reached the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Offensively, the powerful tailback won the area rushing crown with 1,446 yards in 174 attempts (8.3 avg.). He scored 15 rushing touchdowns. Bouagnon also made 3 receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the outside linebacker made 19 solo tackles and assisted on 73 others. He also registered a sack and 12 tackles for loss. “He did a great job for us,” Central coach Rich Crabel said. “We spelled him a little bit on offense, but we were not as deep at linebacker we didn’t spell him as much on defense. He handled it. He’s a tough football player”

Chandler Crary Burlington Central

A two-time all-Big Northern (East) selection, this senior middle linebacker and fullback was a leader for a 7-win playoff team. Defensively, Crary (6-0, 200) paced the Rockets in tackles for the second straight year, finishing with 33 solo and 86 assists. He also posted 3 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. Crary made between 12 and 17 tackles in every game this season. “He has great sideline to sideline speed and he reads open windows really well,” Rockets coach Rich Crabel said. “That’s why he had so many tackles for loss.” Offensively, he rushed for 74 yards on 14 carries when he wasn’t paving the way with blocks for a 1,400-yard rusher at tailback.

Luke Duffy St. Edward

This 6-foot, 185-pound senior defined leadership for the Green Wave, both statistically and intangibly. The outside linebacker led his team with 71 tackles to go with 2 sacks, 3 pass breakups and an interception. Offensively, the fullback led St. Edward in rushing attempts (114), rushing yards (797), rushing touchdowns (9), receptions (22) and scoring (78 points). He finished with 366 yards receiving and 4 touchdown catches. Most notably, Duffy was named to all-Suburban Christian (Blue) and all-state academic teams. “He was our spiritual leader, our on-the-field leader and our off-the-field leader,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “Just a good, solid kid, a great role model for our team to look up to.”

Jeff Dziedzic Crystal Lake South

A 6-foot, 210-pound senior, this all-Fox Valley (Valley) linebacker made 25 solo tackles and 28 assists. He also recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and had half a sack. Offensively, he assumed the role of the Gators’ leading rusher in the postseason. Dziedzic finished the season with 99 carries for 566 yards (5.7 avg.) and 7 touchdowns. That may have been just the tip of the iceberg. “He definitely could have been a 1,000-yard rusher and one of the top backs in the area,” CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “He played great at linebacker all year then was just a dominant force at fullback later in the year.” He also made 3 catches for 117 yards, highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown reception.

Evan Finnane St. Edward

This 6-foot-2, 255-pound senior with offers from Air Force and Army was a pillar on both sides of the line for the Green Wave. A three-year starter, the tackle helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 352 yards per game. Defensively, the all-Suburban Christian (Blue) pick totaled 56 tackles and registered 4 sacks, forced a fumble, recovered another and deflected 2 pass attempts. “He was the toughest, strongest kid in the program,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “He’s a great athlete, which has led to his success. He’ll be difficult to replace on both sides of the ball.”

Matt Gerebizza Cary-Grove

Voted a team captain at season’s end by his teammates, this offensive lineman was a force for the Trojans, who won a first-round playoff game for the eighth straight season. Gerebizza also played on the defensive line later in the season. “He’s big, strong and has very good feet for his size,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said of his 6-foot-3, 235-pound lineman. “If we have a Divsion-I kind of player, he’s it. He really understood our offense and what we were trying to do.”

Jake Gierlak Jacobs

A 5-foot-10, 180-pound receiver, this junior set a new Jacobs single-season record with 716 yards receiving. Six of his 34 catches went for touchdowns. Gierlak was named all-Fox Valley (Valley). “Jake had a great year because he really put in a lot of extra work,” Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. “He really showed some big-play capability. And he has great hands.” Gierlak averaged 21.1 yards per reception.

Blake Holder Streamwood

This wide receiver and track sprinter was a big-play threat for Streamwood’s first playoff team in nine seasons. A 6-foot-2, 189-pound junior, he averaged 24.5 yards per catch. In 10 games he finished with 24 receptions for 587 yards and 6 touchdowns. As a safety on defense, he nabbed 4 interceptions, including 2 in Week 9 against Larkin to seal a playoff berth. “I’ve coached some good athletes including a receiver who went on to win a national title in college, and Blake potentially has more going for him physically,” Streamwood coach Cal Cummins said. “If he keeps pushing it, he has a chance to be in a pretty elite category.”

Zach Karys Bartlett

A 5-foot-11, 180-pound wide receiver, this senior was named all-Upstate Eight (Valley) after leading the outright division champs with 40 receptions for 748 yards and 9 touchdowns. “He was voted the best competitor on the team,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “He was the hardest worker in his class.” Karys graduates as the most prolific pass catcher in Bartlett history, having set records for career receptions (105) and touchdown catches (20)

Adam Kulon Jacobs

This 6-foot-5, 250 pound junior was one of the most effective two-way linemen in the area. Named all-Fox Valley (Valley), the two-year starter played the entire season at offensive tackle for a unit that gained an area-best average of 389 yards per game. Defensively, Kulon began the year at linebacker but soon shifted to end. He concluded the season with 67 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4 sacks for a team that won 7 games and reached the playoffs for the second straight year. “He had a great year for us,” Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. “He led our team in time played. I’m happy he’s only a junior.”

Chase Lundry Hampshire

This 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior was a stalwart on both sides of the ball. As a tailback, he carried 206 times for 1,104 yards and 12 touchdowns, an average of 5.4 yards per attempt. He also had 8 receptions for 116 yards (14.5 avg.). Defensively, the linebacker led Hampshire in tackles with 23 solo and 41 assists. He also forced 2 fumbles and grabbed a team-best 2 interceptions. “He was so durable,” Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said. “He rushed over 200 times and led the team in tackles. We had to have him on the field. He was our go-to guy.”

Sam Mago Cary-Grove

Voted a captain and team MVP by his teammates and also named all-Fox Valley (Valley), this two-way lineman was a physical and emotional leader for a team that finished 8-3 and reached the second round of the playoffs for the eighth straight year. Mago, who played throughout the second half of the 2009 Class 6A state title game, played center all season and joined the defense late in the campaign. In limited action he notched 4 tackles, a sack and 2 tackles for loss. “He was really our offensive leader,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “He’s real quick off the ball and he learned our system so well he knew it inside out.”

Dennis Moore Elgin

Though assorted injuries robbed him of 14 quarters, this fearless all-Upstate Eight (River) running back nevertheless finished among the top ten rushers in the area with 590 yards on 97 totes (6.1 avg.). A 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior with interest from Mid-American Conference schools, he scored 4 rushing touchdowns, including a long of 80 yards. He also had 2 receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown. The repeat all-area pick registered 21 solo tackles and 5 assists at safety. The talented special teamer averaged 35.9 yards on 9 kick returns, highlighted by touchdown returns of 99 and 84 yards. He even kicked 8 extra points. “Dennis is impressive on the field and off,” Elgin coach Dave Bierman said. “He got stronger every year and his grade-point average went up every year. He tried to improve every way you can. He didn’t have as many snaps as he would have liked, but he’s an impact player no matter what. He could score anytime he touched the ball.”

Alex Morrow Streamwood

A repeat all-Upstate Eight (River) and all-area selection, this senior running back was the Fox Valley area’s second-leading rusher with 1,318 yards and 15 touchdowns on 204 carries (6.5 avg.). He also made 8 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. Morrow finished third in the voting for UEC River Offensive Player of the Year. Defensively, he returned an interception for a touchdown. “He’s pretty gifted,” Streamwood coach Cal Cummins said. “We had a pretty good offensive line, but Alex gained a lot of yards with his natural ability. Put him behind some of the best lines in the state and he might be a 2,000-yard rusher.”

Adolfo Pacheco South Elgin

This senior developed into one of the area’s most effective rushers. The 6-foot, 200-pound ball carrier gained 1,137 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 146 attempts (7.8 avg.). “When he’s at his best he runs like he’s angry,” South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. “He’s a very physical runner and he makes great lateral cuts and changes speeds to set up blocks. That’s extra talent beyond what you normally see in high school.” Pacheco, an all-Upstate Eight (River) selection, led the Storm with 200 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. His 1,376 all-purpose yards were more than double his closest teammate.

Mike Partyka Bartlett

A three-year varsity starter and a team captain for two seasons, this inside linebacker was named the Defensive player of the Year in the Upstate Eight Conference’s Valley Division. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior led the outright UEC Valley champs to their second straight title by pacing the Hawks with 90 tackles (55 solo). He scored 2 defensive touchdowns: a 19-yard interception return against Lake Park and a fumble recovery in the end zone against Neuqua Valley. “I don’t remember anyone else having 2 defensive touchdowns in a season here,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “He was an intense competitor. He was the kind of kid you had to slow down in practice because he might hurt somebody.” Partyka made 189 tackles in three varsity seasons.

Alex Schabert Larkin

Twice named all-Upstate Eight (River), this 6-foot-2, 315-pound junior was Larkin’s most valuable man in the trenches, though his season was cut short by injury. “He’s close to all-state caliber,” Larkin coach Mike Scianna said of a lineman drawing interest from schools like Boston College. “He’s going to get even stronger as a senior. I don’t imagine there will be many lineman in the state better than him next year.”

Jon Slania South Elgin

This 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior was a force on both sides of the line for the Storm. Slania played right tackle until an injury forced him to miss 2 games. He demonstrated his versatility by moving to center when he returned for the final 2 games of the season. “He’s among the top three linemen I’ve ever coached,” South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. “He’s just an outstanding player, a great competitor. He’ll block anyone you put in front of him.” As a defensive lineman he chalked up 14 solo tackles and 24 assists, made 4.5 tackles for loss, had 2 sacks and forced a fumble.

Brad Walovitch Crystal Lake South

The honorary co-captain of the all-area team was in the middle of the action whether the Gators were playing offense, defense or special teams. Offensively, the senior led the two-time Fox Valley Conference Valley Division champs in receptions (34) and receiving yards (474) and he grabbed 3 touchdowns. Walovitch also carried the ball 19 times for 107 yards (5.6 avg.) and a touchdown, and he completed 2 of 2 pass attempts for 31 yards. Defensively, the cornerback led the area with 7 interceptions. He made 20 solo tackles, had 7 assists, 2 tackles for loss and broke up 2 passes. Also his team’s kicker, he made 36 of 39 point-after attempts and 4 field goals, none more memorable than a 51-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat rival Cary-Grove in Week 3, 10-7. Walovitch led area punters with a 37.8-yard average. He also returned 11 kickoffs for 237 yards, highlighted by an 85-yard touchdown. “He’s good at everything,” Gators coach Chuck Ahsmann said.

Caz Zyks Jacobs

This 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior was named to the all Fox Valley (Valley) team for the second straight season and voted team MVP by his teammates. A three-year varsity starter for the Golden Eagles, Zyks completed his second season at tailback with 148 carries for 1,225 yards and 13 touchdowns. His rushing total is a single-season school record. He also had 15 receptions for 172 yards. “Anytime he touched the ball he was a threat to take it all the way,” Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. The biggest thing was his work ethic. He made himself quicker and stronger. We believe he’s the all-time leading rusher in Jacobs history.” In two seasons at tailback (he started in the secondary as a sophomore), Zyks rushed for 2,312 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Player School Yr. Pos.

Quinn Baker Cary-Grove Jr. QB

Justin Banks Larkin Sr. WR/DB

Josh Beveridge Crystal Lake South Sr. DL

*AJ Bilyeu Bartlett Sr. QB

Joel Bouagnon Burlington Central Jr. RB/LB

Chandler Crary Burlington Central Sr. LB/FB

Luke Duffy St. Edward Sr. FB/LB

Jeff Dziedzic Crystal Lake South Sr. FB/LB

Evan Finnane St. Edward Sr. OL/DL

Matt Gerebizza Cary-Grove Sr. OL/DL

Jake Gierlak Jacobs Jr. WR

Blake Holder Streamwood Jr. WR/DB

Zach Karys Bartlett Sr. WR

Adam Kulon Jacobs Jr. OL/DL

Chase Lundry Hampshire Sr. RB/LB

Sam Mago Cary-Grove Sr. OL/DL

Dennis Moore Elgin Sr. RB/DB

Alex Morrow Streamwood Sr. RB/DB

Adolfo Pacheco South Elgin Sr. RB

Mike Partyka Bartlett Sr. LB

Alex Schabert Larkin Jr. OL/DL

Jon Slania South Elgin Sr. OL/DL

*Brad Walovitch Crystal Lake South Sr. WR/DB/K/P

Caz Zyks Jacobs Sr. RB

* Honorary co-captain

Honorable mention

Bartlett —Nick Andreucetti (Jr., DB), Kevin Bauers (Sr., OT), James Butler (So., RB/DB), Kyle Garcia (Jr., DB), Kevin Kirchhoff (Jr., LB), Ryan McCord (Sr., DL), Lorenzo Mitchell (Sr., TE)

Burlington Central — Johnny Major (Sr., DB/WR), Ryan Ritchie (Jr., QB), Al Willett (Sr., DB/FB)

Cary-Grove — Sam Babick (Sr., LB), Zach Marszal (Jr., DB), Kyle Norberg (Jr., LB)

Crystal Lake South — Will Ahsmann (Sr., WR/DB), Eddie Atkinson (Sr., C), Steve Forner (Sr., LB/FB), Joe Coriaci (Sr., LB/RB)

Elgin — Eric Keophilalay (Sr., LB)

Huntley — Ethan Connor (Jr., RB), Bryce Beschorner (Jr., DB/WR)

Jacobs — Tyler Heiss (Sr., LB), Jason Judson (Sr., QB), Maciej Kozlowski (Sr., OL), Kyle Wright (Sr., FB)

Larkin — Luka Bogicevic (Sr., DB), Kyle Newquist (Jr., QB)

St. Edward — Zack McQueen (Sr., DL/OL), Mark Sink (Jr., OL/LB)

South Elgin — DJ Greene (Sr., DT/FB), Zach Marotta (Sr., LB/TE), David Reisner (Sr., K/P)

Streamwood — Dalton Lundeen (Sr., QB), Vince Williams (Jr., LB/WR)

Captain’s honor roll

1995 — Eric Miquelon (Larkin)

1996 — Vince Webber (Larkin)

1997 — Vince Webber (Larkin)

1998 — Matt Schabert (Larkin) and Kevin Kaplan (Cary-Grove)

1999 — Matt Schabert (Larkin), Travann Hayes (Larkin) and Clint Reames (Jacobs)

2000 — Dan Sheldon (Burlington Central) and Colin Williams (Elgin)

2001 — Brett Borchart (Huntley) and Eric Kramer (Bartlett)

2002 — Brad Podge (Bartlett) and Trent Steckel (Crystal Lake South)

2003 — Doug Sanders (St. Edward) and Averill Sutchar (Bartlett)

2004 — Kent Martin (Bartlett) and Brian Mitz (Cary-Grove)

2005 — Jake Goebbert (Hampshire) and Alex Kube (Cary-Grove)

2006 — Andrew Lorman (Cary-Grove) and Paul Duyckinck (Burlington Central)

2007 — Sam Campbell (Prairie Ridge) and Cam Kinley (Larkin)

2008 — Jordan Neukirch (Huntley) and Kyle Zelinsky (Bartlett)

2009 — Jalen Williams (Larkin) and Eric Chandler (Cary-Grove)

2010 — Drew Ormseth (Crystal Lake South) and Andrew Puccini (Bartlett)

2011 — A.J. Bilyeu (Bartlett) and Brad Walovitch (Crystal Lake South)