Football: Week 3 MVPs
Wheeling senior quarterback Amani Dennis and Addison Trail senior defensive lineman Bobby Rinaldi have earned Daily Herald MVP honors for the football performances in Week 2.
Dennis scored twice, finishing with 164 yards rushing and 120 yards passing to help Wheeling past Palatine 31-21.
Rinaldi had 5 tackles for loss, a pair of sack and 2 fumble recoveries as the Blazers blanked Downers Grove South 21-0.
OFFENSE
Amani Dennis, Wheeling: Dennis delivered in a big way as Wheeling managed to get past Palatine 31-21. The senior quarterback finished with 164 yards rushing and scored twice on the ground, including the go-ahead score late in the game on an option keeper. He also completed 12 of 20 passes for 120 yards without an interception as the Wildcats improved to 2-1.
Dwayne Allen, St. Edward: This speedy running back was hardly slowed by the soggy, muddy grass at Greg True Field in Elgin during Friday's 33-7 victory over Riverside-Brookfield. The 5-foot-8, 166-pound junior battered the Bulldog defense with 43 rushing attempts - approximately 15 of which were direct snaps in the Wildcat formation - for 194 yards and 3 touchdowns on runs of 21, 1 and 12 yards for unbeaten St. Edward (3-0).
Connor McNamara, Vernon Hills: That was an offensive "Mac" attack. The junior and second-year starter at quarterback had a breakout game in leading the Cougars to a 64-28 win over North Chicago. He scored a school-record 6 touchdowns, rushing 15 times for 96 yards. He also threw for 120 yards and a TD.
Brad Sznajder, Benet: Sznajder had the hot hand as the Redwings rolled to a 23-0 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory at Notre Dame. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior running back carried the ball 22 times for 296 yards and scored both Benet touchdowns on runs of 2 and 53 yards. Sznajder also had 3 catches for 32 yards.
Aiden Wright, St. Charles East: With St. Charles East seeking its first win, this 5-foot-11, 155-pound junior quarterback stood tall. Making his first varsity start, Wright completed 12 of 20 passes for 164 yards with touchdown throws of 11 and 15 yards as the Saints beat Elgin 40-0 in the Upstate Eight River.
DEFENSE
Bobby Rinaldi, Addison Trail: Led by Rinaldi, the Blazers dominated in a 21-0 West Suburban Gold win over Downers South. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior lineman did it all while notching 8 tackles, including five for loss, 2 sacks and 5 quarterback pressures. Rinaldi blocked a field goal and recovered 2 fumbles.
Sean Campbell, Marmion: The 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior came up huge with the game on the line. After making 3 tackles the cornerback dropped into man-to-man coverage against St. Francis' top receiver and intercepted a pass in his own end zone to clinch Marmion's 17-13 Chicago Christian Green victory.
Jordan McInerney, Libertyville: That was a defensive "Mac" attack. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound defensive end helped the Wildcats improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2006, as he rang up 1.5 sacks and 3 other tackles for loss in a 20-10 win over Lake Zurich. He also blocked a punt that led to a touchdown.
Alex Rezny, Rolling Meadows: Rezny had the key play in a tight game with Schaumburg. The junior defensive end stripped the ball from the Saxons' quarterback and kept going, finding the end zone after a 56-yard return. The Mustangs tacked on one more score to upend Schaumburg 18-13.
Charlie Sanders, Burlington Central: This 6-foot-1, 215-pound defensive end and his fellow linemen led the Rockets to a 29-0 win in the Big Northern East opener against North Boone, which had scored 58 points in 2 victories. The senior had 2 of that unit's 6 sacks and 6 of its 15 tackles (2 solo) to help Central to its first shutout since Week 6 of the 2013 season.