Schmit: Who had the area’s top prep football performances in Week 8?
Eight weeks into the IHSA football season, and we’re still finding new players to honor.
It’s not easy trying to keep tabs on the 80-plus area teams hitting the field each week. But this season we’ve managed to tab players from about half those schools, thanks to our unofficial no-repeat rule.
This week we’re adding a few more. Let’s get to the area’s top performances of Week 8.
5. Nate Lang, QB, IC Catholic Prep
We normally don’t list performances from losing teams, but Lang was tremendous as the Class 3A Knights gave unbeaten 8A power Loyola everything it could handle in a 45-35 Chicago Catholic League crossover loss.
The senior completed 25 of 34 passes for 368 yards and five touchdowns. All the scores and more than 300 passing yards came in the first half as IC Catholic Prep burst to a 35-21 halftime lead.
Unfortunately for the Knights, Loyola used its two-platoon depth advantage to score 24 straight points in the second half.
4. Brayden Byford, OL-DL, York
The Dukes have shattered a two-game losing streak in grand style by beating a pair of ranked teams. Last week they held off Glenbard West 25-22 in the West Suburban Silver with a stellar defensive effort.
York’s two-way linemen put in yeoman work on a warm Saturday afternoon, led by Byford. The senior, committed to Dayton, helped pave the way for 171 rushing yards — the bulk of them from Chris Georgas on 28 carries — from his right guard spot.
Byford also made a big impact on defense, notching four tackles including two-and-a-half for loss and a half sack.
3. Eliaz Egbe, LB, Palatine
It was quite a defensive effort by the Pirates in a 16-7 Mid-Suburban League West win over Hoffman Estates, highlighted by a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Dami Mohammed.
But steady and stout the entire game was Egbe, a junior linebacker with double-digit FBS college scholarship offers. Egbe notched 10 tackles, including one for loss, and defended a pass. He also forced a fumble that was recovered by Mohammed.
2. Jaylen Newkirk, QB, Grayslake North
A terrific rivalry game ended with a North victory thanks to their junior signal caller.
The Knights edged Grayslake Central 34-29, scoring three straight touchdowns to break open a 15-14 game at halftime. Newkirk completed 12 of 19 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He added 93 rushing yards and two more scores.
1. Iann Lemus, RB, West Chicago
What a night for the Wildcats, especially their ground game. They beat Ridgewood 57-34 in the Upstate Eight Conference to virtually clinch a fourth straight playoff berth with a third win on the season.
About that ground game … West Chicago amassed 593 rushing yards behind the rotation of offensive linemen Lincoln Jeffery, Lucas Juarez, Robert Woodbury, Luis Romero, Anthony Rzymowski and Arian Valdez.
Lemus was the workhorse of the night, carrying the ball 29 times for 276 yards and five touchdowns. Liam Zbierski and Bobby Elizondo also rushed for more than 100 yards.