Schmit: Who had the top performances in the second round of the prep football playoffs?
Remember the no-repeat rule for our list of top prep football performances? It’s out the window.
We sadly lose area teams as the playoffs progress each weekend, so we reduce our pool of players from winning teams. But we still had some outstanding efforts among the teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Eleven area teams remain alive — Aurora Christian, Cary-Grove, Downers Grove North, Hersey, Huntley, IC Catholic Prep, Prospect, St. Francis, Wauconda, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South. Let’s look at the top performances from the second round.
5. Chase Hojnacki, RB, Huntley
Through to the Class 8A quarterfinals for the first time since 2016, the Red Raiders are unbeaten and have 11 wins for the first time in program history.
Hojnacki, a junior, led the offense in a 42-0 victory over Lane where Huntley tallied at least 40 points for the ninth time this season. He carried the ball 24 times for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Hojnacki has 1,579 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on the season for the second-seeded Red Raiders, who face No. 7 New Trier (10-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Huntley.
4. Finn Loomis, OL, Wauconda
Why throw it when you can just run the ball behind a line like this?
The fourth-seeded Bulldogs (9-2) pounded Belvidere North 40-7 after completing just one pass, a 12-yard touchdown from Cooper Karaszewski to Liam Harris in the fourth quarter.
Loomis, a junior guard, anchored the line effort with Miguel Cervantes, Jayden Sanders, Sebastian Torres and Noah Schuck. Together they helped Wauconda pile up 397 rushing yards.
The Bulldogs play their first quarterfinal game since 1992 at 1 p.m. Saturday at No. 9 Sycamore (8-4).
3. Jack Purgatorio, DB, Downers North
The No. 3 Trojans (10-1) shined again with one of the state’s top defenses in a 17-7 victory over St. Rita in 7A. Downers North held a sixth opponent this season to single-digit scoring, with the lone Mustangs touchdown coming on an interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Purgatorio, a senior safety, was the best within a team effort from Downers North’s defense. He led the way with 11 tackles and snared an interception in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Downers North, in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight season, travels to Oak Lawn to play No. 11 Richards (9-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
2. A.J. Rogers, QB, WW South
An honoree for a second straight week, the junior quarterback carried the No. 6 Tigers (8-3) into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019 with a 45-15 win over Riverside-Brookfield in Class 6A.
Rogers, after throwing for 274 yards and four touchdowns in the first round, completed 18 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns last weekend.
The Tigers play No. 2 Normal Community West (10-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Wheaton.
1. Grant Neibch, QB, Wheaton North
Neibch overcame a late interception that turned into the go-ahead score for Geneva. The sophomore responded with an 80-yard drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Clayton with 1.6 seconds left as the Falcons stunned their way to a 36-35 victory over the Vikings in Class 6A.
Neibch completed 24 of 35 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns. The No. 7 Falcons (8-3) face No. 6 Fenwick (8-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Triton College in River Grove.