DuPage County: Tuesday Morning Quarterback

Name: Matt Appel

School: Neuqua Valley

Year: Senior

Best thing about being an offensive lineman: I think that being an offensive lineman offers a unique type of competition. It's not like the wide receivers where you're seeing who can elude each other, it's more who can overpower each other. Whose steps win out, whose strength wins out, whose scheme wins out, all that stuff.

Worst thing about being an offensive lineman: I don't even know that there is a worst part. When the team scores, we score. Our quarterback (Mark Gronowski) appreciates us and he's really good at showing it. Honestly, there's no one else that I'd rather do it for.

Don't tell my coach that: I have a bad habit of staying up later than I should.

If I could change one thing about football: One thing that I really can't stand is how a defensive holding call is a first down. This sounds weird coming from an offensive lineman, but when it comes to hurt us, or even when I'm watching the Bears, when it's third-and-forever it's an automatic first down even though it's only a 5-yard penalty.

Team not on our schedule I wish we could play: I kind of want to play Lincoln-Way East. The thing about Lincoln-Way East is that unlike East St. Louis, they're actually in our (Class 8A playoff) division so they're a team we could possibly see in the playoffs. And I feel like playing them in the regular season is the best way to get us the best competition to prepare us for the playoffs. Ideally, that's the goal.

How I'll celebrate if I score a TD: (Matt scored one in eighth grade.) Knowing me, I'd probably get concerned about getting a flag. I'd jump around with my teammates a little bit here and there, but realistically I'd probably be concerned with getting a flag.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat: I like Instagram just because I think its layout is super-easy to follow and I get a mixture of personal stuff, things that make me laugh, like memes, and I also get news like "SportsCenter," ESPN.

What I like best about my school: I like the people in it the best. My (track and field) throws coach, (David) Ricca, if I hadn't met him by playing football freshman year I wouldn't even have gotten into throwing. And I think that the people at Neuqua are very good about leading people to the right direction. Obviously, without them I wouldn't be looking at the schools I'm looking at right now (for college).

Something about me that would surprise you: I am a second-degree black belt in taekwondo. I did that when I was in elementary school probably for six or seven years. The other thing that I think is super-ironic and actually funny - I'm allergic to apples. As soon as everyone hears that they have to ask me if I'm being serious because they don't believe me the first time around.

Other sports I play: It's really just track and field. I would consider that my main sport. (Matt owns Neuqua Valley indoor and outdoor shot put records and its discus record, and he was all-state in both events in 2019.) I'm just as invested in football as I am in track because I want to do everything I possibly can to help my teams do the best they possibly can. Whenever I have free time, in between seasons, I enjoy skiing and snowboarding.

Favorite actor: Kevin Hart. Kevin Hart is hysterical.

Favorite actress: I'm not a huge movie watcher, but I will say that I thought Jenna Fischer in "The Office" was hysterical.

Favorite athlete: Probably (Chicago Bears lineman) Kyle Long or Daniel Ståhl, the discus thrower from Sweden. I have one for each sport.

Favorite musician: My favorite song right now is "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. I wouldn't say he's my favorite artist overall because I'm not really sure I have one, but that song was a big part of a trip I was on (one) summer, to Monmouth (College) with the group, the JKB Foundation.

The stat

Of the 21 football games played by DuPage County football teams in Week 5, none were finished on Friday because of poor weather. West Chicago played on Thursday, Lisle on Sunday and 19 other games were either completed or rescheduled for Saturday.

Friday Night Forecast

As of Monday afternoon according to ABC 7 Chicago AccuWeather, Friday will be cool with a high of 59 and a low of 49. No rain is in the early forecast.