Lake Co. all-area football team

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Mike Bilton StevensonAn all-area player as a junior, Bilton built on it. He led the Patriots with 41 receptions - 10 more than he had last year - averaging 16.2 yards per catch. And as he did last season, he also played in the defensive secondary, punted and returned kicks. "He's a heck of an athlete," coach Bill Mitz said. Bilton scored 8 touchdowns, including a pair in the playoffs against eventual Class 8A state champ Maine South. He caught a 36-yard TD pass and returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score. Against Lake Zurich in Week 4, he caught 10 passes, including one for a TD, and had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. "That was one of the best single-game efforts I've seen," Mitz said. "It was unbelievable."

John Brewer Lake ZurichBrewer was a disrupter. The 6-3, 230-pound defensive lineman was always creating havoc, whether he was a making play or not. "John is an explosive player that has the rare combination of size and speed," coach Bryan Stortz said. "His presence freed up his teammates to make plays." The repeat all-area selection notched 44 tackles, including 33 solos and 5 for loss. He forced 2 fumbles, recovered 2 and had an interception. A three-year starter, Brewer played in two state-championship games. "John has been a major contributor in our success," Stortz said. "His value to our defense will be difficult to match."

Tom Bychowski GrantBychowski was ill with mono for much of the season and wound up missing four games. When he returned, it was opposing coaches and players who often wound up feeling sick to their stomachs-with disgust. There was almost no stopping Bychowski when he was at his best. "In our two playoff wins, if we don't have Tommy, we don't win those games," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "When he's out there, we have a different feel to our team, a different swagger. When Tommy's out there, you know that any time he touches the ball it could be a game-changing play." A three-year starter at wide receiver and defensive back, Bychowski scored 6 touchdowns and tallied 443 all-purpose yards. He had 3 interceptions and averaged 30.8 yards per punt return, scoring 1 touchdown in the process.

DaVaris Daniels Vernon HillsThere was a lot of jaw-dropping and head-shaking taking place on the Vernon Hills' sideline this year. "You know how great players will do something on the field that will make your jaw drop, well, DaVaris was doing that three or four times a game," Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. "He's just a once-in-a-lifetime athlete with as good of instincts as I've been around in more than 20 years of coaching. Everyone in the country wants film on him. Next year, it's going to get nutty." Daniels is listed as a receiver, free safety, kick and punt returner, running back and quarterback and can indeed put the hurt on from anywhere. The sophomore caught 26 passes for 432 yards and 5 touchdowns. He rushed for 3 touchdowns and threw for 2 out of the halfback option. He rolled up more than 450 return yards, made 32 tackles and tallied 4 interceptions.

Sebastian Evans Vernon HillsThe Vernon Hills program has Evans listed at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds. "And he may not even be that big," Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. "But very few people play at the level of intensity he does. When you're the size he is, to make an impact, I guess you have to be that intense. He plays with so much fire, so much energy. He's also extremely quick and has break-away speed. Seb is a great weapon." On the season, Evans rolled up 15 touchdowns, 11 on the ground. He rushed for 718 yards on 106 carries. He also caught 18 passes for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns. At cornerback on defense, he made 27 tackles and 4 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Tom Gerstner AntiochMaybe it's the wrestler in him, but Gerstner has been known to be relentless. "He just doesn't stop," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said of his linebacker. "He's so physical and he lives and breathes football. He just never gives up." Never was that more evident than in the Lemont semifinal game where Gerstner had 13 solo tackles and a few more on kickoffs. On the season, he tallied a team-high 82 tackles. "He was a man-child in that Lemont game," Glashagel said. "And he was the leader of our defense all year. A lot of people talked about our offense and our running backs this year, but Tom may have been the MVP of our team."

Dan Hourihan GrantHourihan was Mr. Reliable for the Bulldogs. "We knew that when we gave Dan the ball, he was going to get us yards," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "He just has this incredible ability to find the hole. He's been a running back since he was a kid, so he just has a sense for it." Hourihan racked up 1,0009 yards on 184 carries. He also ran in 11 touchdowns. And when Hourihan wasn't showing off his quick feet, he was scoring points with an accurate foot that connected on 29 PATs and 2 field goals.

John King GrantAs part of a special series, the Fox television affiliate in Chicago regularly picks a school in the area and recognizes the most valuable players on its sports teams. King and the rest of Grant's fall MVPs made a trip to the city this week for a live shot in the studio. The Grant coaches picked the defensive end as the team's top dog this year. "He's our guy," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "He did everything for us. He's got great strength and speed and he's very good with his hands. He even changed his jersey number so he could play some tight end for us because we needed an extra blocker in there." King led the Bulldogs with 72 tackles, 19 for loss.

E.J. Lannan Vernon HillsOnce again, Lannan had the perma-smile going as he rolled up 100-plus tackles (114 to be exact) for the second straight season. "There are guys who hit because they know it's part of football and there are others who hit and get up with a smile on their face," Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. "EJ was one who was always smiling out there. He's just one of those perfect linebackers. He loves to hit, has great instincts and reacts quickly. He was the heart and soul of our defense." Lannan also rolled up 8 tackles for loss, 3 hurries and 2 sacks.

Tom Lindal WarrenThe Blue Devils had a big hole to fill at running back. They filled it with the sophomore, who found holes and sped through them. Lindal banged out 1,308 rushing yards, averaging 8.5 yards per carry, and scored 18 touchdowns for the North Suburban Lake Division champs. "Tom assummed a large role in our offense," coach Dave Mohapp said. "He has very good balance, strength and speed."

Steve Lorenzini AntiochDuring a monsoon-like downpour on a cold Week 9 night in the mud, few were surprised that Lorenzini kept rolling up the yardage against Lakes. "That was absolutely Steve's kind of game - in the mud, in the cold and rain. Grind-it-out football," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "That's a game where our offense was still effective and it was all because of Steve. He's just a throwback kind of player who is tough, durable and just gets the job done." Lorenzini rolled up 1,133 yards on 192 attempts, ranking him fourth on Antioch's all-time single season rushing yards list. The fullback also scored 8 touchdowns. Lorenzini is just a junior but already ranks third on Antioch's career rushing yards list with 1,976 yards.

Patrick Lyons Carmel CatholicLyons roared. Which is no surprise considering Patrick's older brothers Matt and Paul did likewise for the Corsairs. Lyons was named most valuable offensive lineman in the rugged East Suburban Catholic. A two-year all-conference player, Lyons switched from tackle to guard this season and was the main blocker on the Corsairs' long and short traps and veer. "I would bet (Mike) Taylor got half his (1,632) yards on those three plays," coach Andy Bitto said. Strong, smart (29 ACT) and athletic, Lyons has been offered a scholarship by the Air Force Academy. He was a quarterback before being moved to the offensive line.

Ryan Maguire WarrenIf Maguire were for hire, you'd hire him. The three-year starter had a breakout season, catching 48 passes for 800 yards (16.7-yard average) and 10 touchdowns. The wide receiver showed off his catching skills on defense, too, with 2 interceptions. He caught 12 passes against eventual Class 8A state champ Maine South in Week 2. "He was a captain this year and played well in all of our big games," coach Dave Mohapp said. "He is an outstanding athlete that can really jump and has great hands."

P.J. Marsek Vernon HillsVernon Hills coach Tony Monken calls Marsek a winner. Marsek is also a trendsetter. In an offense that historically revolves heavily around an option rushing attack, Marsek managed to complete 66 of 121 passes for 1,097 yards and 14 touchdowns. "We just don't do that here," Monken chuckled. "But PJ just understood the offense so well. And he got himself better over the off-season. He got stronger and faster and he worked on his footwork and mechanics and he threw a great ball this year that had a little more zip on it than in the past. That was all reflected in his numbers." Marsek also rushed for 641 yards and 8 touchdowns. He became the first quarterback in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and pass for more than 1,000 yards in a career.

Aaron Montgomery WarrenJersey No. 5 was always getting high fives. Montgomery starred at outside linebacker, and had 7 interceptions in his second season as a starter, but he did so much more for the Blue Devils. He lined up in the backfield in goal-line situations and rushed for 3 touchdowns. He threw a TD pass, he returned a punt for a score, and he even returned one of his picks for six points. His 42 tackles, meanwhile, included 30 solos. "Aaron," coach Dave Mohapp said, "has a knack for making plays on both sides of the ball."

James Poliquin WarrenIn order to win, Warren ran behind Poliquin. The North Suburban Lake Division champs averaged 326.5 yards of offense and 28.4 points per game thanks in large part (pun intended) to the three-year starting offensive lineman. "He possesses great foot quickness and speed," coach Dave Mohapp said of his 6-4, 260-pound tackle. "He was a big part of our offense."

Ben Samson StevensonHe's come a long since his freshman year and next month he'll go a little farther. Samson is graduating early and will be taking classes at Western Michigan University in January. Then in early February, he'll sign his letter of intent. "He's worked extremely hard," coach Bill Mitz said,"from being barely able to get into his stance three years ago to becoming a scholarship athlete." A 6-6, 315-pounder, Samson was a three-year starter on the offensive line. "This year," Mitz said, "he played a lot more physical."Louis Schultz AntiochSure, Antioch had several top-notch running backs this season - all of whom would have probably gotten their fair share of yards anyway. But put those same backs behind the Antioch line and they were often unstoppable. The Antioch offensive line, led by Schultz, was one of the best units in the area. It paved the way for 4,610 total yards, the most in school history for a single season. The Sequoits also scored a school-record 514 points. "When you're picking an offensive line, the first guy you have to find is your split guard. That's your best lineman because you're pulling him the most," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "For us, that guy was Louie. He's a great athlete and he blocked really well. He was also the vocal leader of our team."Jake Sinkovec Carmel CatholicSinkovec sank all his might into opposing ballcarriers. "He's a hitter," coach Andy Bitto said. "He knocks everyone down. He closes plays, too. He'll be on one side of the field and get to the other side to make the tackle." A two-year starter in the secondary, Sinkovec led the Corsairs in tackles with 92 (61 solos), including 5 for loss, and interceptions with 4. He picked off a pair of passes in the Corsairs' second-round playoff win at Woodstock. A 6-4 and 210-pounder who scored a 29 on his ACT, Sinkovec has several Division I schools interested in him. Among those that have inquired are Akron, Miami (Ohio), Navy and Boston College.Justin Squillo Grayslake CentralIt was a tough season for the Rams as a team, but Squillo himself wound up having a season for the record books. His 63 catches (for 632 yards) led Lake County, and his explosive effort against Prairie Ridge in the season finale puts him amongst the all-time single-game leaders in IHSA history. In that game, Squillo hauled in 17 catches for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns. That puts him tied for third with five other players in state history for most catches in a game. Two players are tied for first place with 19 catches each. On the season, Squillo averaged 10 yards per catch, 70.2 yards per game and scored 3 touchdowns. "He's the best route runner I've ever coached," coach Nick Goshe said. "He's got a good feel, he understands where the openings are in a zone."Bud Staton GrantA three-year starter, Staton had already given plenty of himself to the program before the season even began. But when teammate Kevin Savage was lost for the season to an injury and the Bulldogs had a need at center, Staton gave even more. He volunteered to play center, in addition to his responsibilities as a defensive end. "Any time you've got a kid playing both ways on the line, you know that he's getting banged up on every single play," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "But Bud's a tough kid. He's quick and aggressive and he did a good job for us all year long." Staton had a total of 65 tackles, 19 for loss.Brian Taylor LibertyvilleAt 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds, he wasn't exactly Taylor-made to be a lineman. The nose tackle's tenacity and skill more than compensated for his lack of size, however. "Pound for pound, Brian was one of the toughest defensive lineman we have ever had," coach Randy Kuceyeski said. Despite being double- and sometimes triple-teamed, Taylor had 3 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. He never missed a snap. "He was relentless in his pursuit and his motor was always running in overdrive," Kuceyeski said. "Because of his toughness, he is exactly the type of player that you want playing in the middle of your defense."Mike Taylor Carmel CatholicCoach Andy Bitto says the Corsairs in the past have been lucky with the smaller guys running the football. How's this for luck: Due to a couple of injuries, the Corsairs moved Taylor from halfback to fullback prior to Week 4. The 5-8 senior then took off - literally. Taylor wound up rushing for 1,632 yards (7.4 average) and 17 touchdowns. Only Eric Luna rushed for more yards in a single season than Taylor. "He has great balance," Bitto said. "He's a good guy after contact, a real good pass blocker, and he can catch the ball. He was a go-to guy. Some guys have a knack for getting first downs. We used him and used him. He was hard to bring down."Mark Weisman StevensonHe carried the load, so he surely can carry the recently added responsibilty of being named a senior captain. Mind you, he's still a junior. "I feel so strongly about his work ethic, on and off the field, so I named him captain for next year," coach Bill Mitz said. "There was no voting. I already made the decision. He's running the show." Weisman ran the football a lot for the Patriots and put on some good shows. He rushed for 1,149 yards, averaging 18 carries per game, and scored 16 touchdowns. He broke off TD runs of 87 and 74 yards against Maine South in the playoffs. "He's a very physical runner," Mitz said. "He runs lows to the ground and has good speed."Cameron White AntiochIf Antioch coach Brian Glashagel had to list all the spectacular plays Cameron White made this season, he'd still be going. White wowed crowds with his speed, his agility, his shakes and bakes, his ability to turn nothing into something and often much more than that. White was as exciting of a running back as Lake County has had in years. "Cameron played great all year long," Glashagel said. "But it almost seemed like the bigger the situation, the better he performed." White rolled up 1,796 rushing yards on the season, just shy of the all-time single season mark at Antioch. He also caught 7 passes for 162 yards and scored a total of 35 touchdowns. White leaves Antioch as its most prolific rusher in history with 2,962 yards.James Zotto LibertyvilleThe Wildcats didn't win Lotto, but they hit the jackpot with Zotto. The junior was money at both running back and free safety. He led the team in tackles (101) and rushing yards (605), and also had 18 receptions, 8 touchdowns and an interception. "James is a great athlete who did everything for us this year," coach Randy Kuceyeski said. "He is truly respected by his teammates and coaches for his work ethic and commitment to excellence, both on the field and in the classroom. He is everything a coach is looking for in a player."Honorable mentionJake Anderson (Antioch Sr. OL), John Androus (Lakes Jr. LB), Brad Backer (Stevenson Sr. DB), Jack Baucus (Carmel Sr. TE), Mike Bessette (Grant Sr. OL), Eric Bialek (Libertyville Sr. LB), Willy Blechschmidt (Lake Zurich Sr. DL), Erik Blomberg (Wauconda Sr. LB), Leonard Brady (Warren Sr. DB), Jon Burandt (Carmel Sr. OL), Eric Church (Warren Sr. OL), Tim Cook (Carmel Sr. DB), Justin Cokefair (Grant Jr. QB), Garrett Dorsey (Wauconda Sr. QB), Jason Freck (Warren Jr. OL), Sean Griffin (Carmel Sr. OL), Chris Heerema (Lakes Sr. OL/DL), Ryan Hrabak (Carmel Sr. LB), Vinnie Holm (Antioch So. RB/K), Kenny Jernigan (Mundelein Sr. RB), Nate Johnson (Libertyville Sr. RB/LB), Travis Kwielford (Antioch Sr. DB), Brandon Kust (Vernon Hills Sr. DB), Steven Lester (Carmel Jr. DL), Mike Liao (Warren Jr. RB/DB), Andrew Maloney (Lake Zurich Sr. RB), Eddy McGlauchlin (Lake Zurich Sr. OL), Cassidy Melton (Grayslake Central Sr. FB/LB), Jimmy Miller (Carmel Sr. K), Glenn Mizowek (Grayslake North Jr. RB), John Motley (Wauconda Sr/ WR/LB), Franko Nava (Lake Zurich Sr. OL/DL), Andrew Nerup (Carmel Sr. QB), Eric Oberwise (Vernon Hills Jr. LB), Kevin O'Rourke (Grayslake Central Sr. QB), Matt Ortiz (Round Lake Sr. QB), Alec Paramski (Antioch Sr. DL), Matt Peterson (Vernon Hills Sr. OL/DL), Bradon Prate (Wauconda Jr. DL), Matt Romani (Antioch Sr. QB), Wade Self (Lake Zurich Sr. LB), Zach Shaw (Warren Sr. QB), Eric Tassler (Libertyville Sr. OL), Josh Trees (Libertyville Sr. WR), Josh Vravick (Stevenson Sr. RB/DB), Tyreese Woodard (Warren Sr. LB), Zach Wujcik (Stevenson Sr. QB), Mike Zielinski (Grant Sr. OL/DL)