Who had the area’s top prep football performances in Week 10?
Now that the IHSA football playoffs have arrived, expect the cream to rise to the top.
The High Five marches on with the area’s top prep football performances of the week, and this edition focuses on the opening round of the playoffs. Even with a number of blowouts, the players listed below kept their focus — often on both sides of the ball.
Spoiler alert … we’ve got our first repeat honoree of the season.
5. Luke Gadomski, DB, Kaneland
The Knights had three pick-six interceptions during a 68-21 win over Lakes in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs, including one returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Gadomski.
The senior had 2 of the team’s 5 interceptions in the game, joining Jackson Little and Santino Fiordirosa with touchdown returns. Gadomski also made 6 tackles and broke up a pass.
4. Nate Lang, QB, IC Catholic Prep
Led by their junior quarterback, the Knights bounced back from a loss in the regular-season finale by beating Hope Academy 42-13 in the 3A playoff opener.
Lang completed 17 of 22 passes for 257 yards and 5 touchdowns. Four different receivers — Grant Bowen, Anthony Carroccio, Will Schmidt and Quai McGee — had scoring grabs.
Four of Lang’s touchdowns came in the Knights’ 35-point second quarter to break open the game.
3. Chris Chang, WR-DB, Lake Zurich
Chang was just getting started when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the Bears’ 46-13 win over Grant in the Class 6A first-rounder.
On defense the senior added 2 interceptions in the first quarter, finishing the game with 3 tackles, including one for loss, and an assist. Offensively, Chang had 8 catches for 116 yards with a 70-yarder for a touchdown.
2. Eli Jackson, WR-DB, Carmel
A stellar two-way effort by Jackson helped the Corsairs hold off Normal 60-44 in 7A.
The senior accounted for all three touchdown passes from junior quarterback Trae Taylor, a Nebraska recruit who threw for more than 300 yards and touchdowns of 22, 18 and 31 yards to Jackson.
Jackson had 12 catches for 223 yards. On defense, he had 4.5 tackles and broke up two passes.
1. Kole Fager, WR-DB, Palatine
Fager did a little bit of everything to help the Pirates beat Whitney Young 29-8 in Class 8A for their first playoff win since 2022.
The senior, a High Five honoree in Week 2, had 8 catches for 116 yards and a 46-yard touchdown. He also ran the ball 7 times for 69 yards and 3 touchdowns including a 4-yarder off a direct snap.
Fager’s defensive effort featured an interception, 4 tackles and a pass breakup.