Schmit: Who had the area’s top prep football performances in Week 1?
One week into the prep football season, and our cup already brims with greatness.
The High Five returns for another campaign of honoring the area’s best each week from now through Thanksgiving weekend and the state title games. As with past seasons, we’ll try to follow a no-repeat rule (at least through the regular season) to spread the wealth as much as possible.
Let’s get started with the area’s top prep football performances from Week 1.
5. Brody Rudolph, RB-LB, Wauconda
Rudolph excelled in all three phases while leading the Bulldogs to a 32-21 win over Hinsdale South.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound senior rushed for 58 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned a kick 60 yards. On defense, the linebacker led his team with 10 tackles.
Wauconda goes for its 13th straight regular-season victory Friday against Maine West.
4. Myles Harris, OL, Conant
The Cougars suffered almost immediate adversity when a starting guard went down with an injury just a few plays into their 21-0 win over Bartlett. Harris shifted from tackle to guard and the line didn’t skip a beat.
The 6-3, 300-pound junior never played guard before but adjusted brilliantly as Conant rushed for 298 yards as a team.
Friday marked the Cougars’ first season-opening win since 2022.
3. Michael Vander Luitgaren, QB, Batavia
A player who will test our no-repeat rule, Vander Luitgaren dominated in the Bulldogs’ 49-35 win over Maine South in a showdown between state powers.
The 6-2, 200-pound senior, committed to Wyoming, went toe-to-toe with Maine South’s potent offense. He completed 28 of 35 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns.
Vander Luitgaren’s top targets were Western Michigan recruit Darin Ashiru and Brennon Zeng, a Northern Illinois recruit, who combined for 17 catches and 290 receiving yards.
2. Aiden Brunner, RB-LB, Jacobs
Brunner accounted for all three scores in a 20-6 Fox Valley Conference victory over Cary-Grove, contributing in the run game, pass game and on defense.
A varsity player since his freshman season, the 5-10, 205-pound junior snared a six-yard touchdown catch and burst into the end zone on a two-yard run while rushing for 131 yards on 15 carries.
Brunner’s final touchdown came after his scoring run gave Jacobs a 12-7 lead. On the ensuing possession he recovered a fumble and ran 21 yards for an insurance score in the third quarter.
Brunner notched nine tackles and added a two-point conversion.
1. Bennett Konkey, WR, Geneva
Another player who could make this list every week, Konkey’s effort couldn’t be ignored in the Vikings’ 28-14 victory over Libertyville.
The Illinois commit, a 6-1, 190-pound senior, showed his sprinter’s speed on the first play of the season by returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Then on his first offensive touch of the game, he caught a pass and ran 70 yards for another score.
Konkey later reached the end zone on a 49-yard screen pass and wound up with 280 all-purpose yards.
kschmit@dailyherald.com