Naperville Sun All-Area team

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

Naperville Central senior Jake Kolbe – Finished with 2,246 passing yards and 18 TDs, rushing for 495 yards and 11 TDs … Selected all-conference by DuPage Valley … Led Redhawks to first state title since 1999 … Did not turn ball over in playoffs.

RUNNING BACKS

Naperville North senior DeSean Brown – Three-year starter rushed for 745 yards on 124 carries and had 52 catches for 664 yards … Scored 17 TDs … All-State pick averaged 6 yards a carry, 12.8 yards a catch.

Waubonsie Valley senior Jon Fizer – Warriors faced tough task of replacing Austin Guido, last year’s Upstate Eight Valley Conference Player of the Year, and Fizer delivered with 168 rushes for 1,372 yards and 17 TDs.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Naperville Central senior Jake Angona – Redhawks had limited experience on the O-line in preseason, but developed into cohesive unit by time they were celebrating 8A title in DeKalb … Leader of line that gave QB Jack Kolbe time to make plays.

Metea Valley junior Brett Boddy – Mustangs fell short of qualifying for playoffs for first time in program history, but posted big wins vs. Bartlett and South Elgin … Left guard at nearly 300 pounds paved way for offense.

Benet senior Tommy Burke – Two-way lineman helped the Redwings jump to 6-0 start … Team rushed for more than four yards a carry on nearly 300 attempts despite losing top running back Porter Ontko to an injury.

Waubonsie Valley senior Jon Harris – At 6-4, 210 pounds, provided pass protection for QB Jack Eddy and opened holes for RB Jon Fizer as Warriors’ offense gained 407 yards a game.

Neuqua Valley senior Sai Klein – A great run or catch wouldn’t happen without strong O-line play … All-conference selection was dominant, helping Wildcats average nearly 40 points a game.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Neuqua Valley senior Mikey Dudek – All-State selection totaled 69 catches for 1,384 yards and 19 TDs … Wildcats coach Bill Ellinghaus called Illinois recruit best receiver he’s ever seen … Upstate Eight Offensive Player of the Year added 260 rushing yards and three TDs … Averaged 33 yards on 21 kickoff returns with two TDs.

Naperville Central senior Ben Andreas – Finished with 63 catches for 842 yards and eight TDs … Many big plays for 8A state champs involved Andreas, who in the playoffs alone had 23 catches for 300-plus yards and 5 TDs while rushing for nearly 200.

PLACEKICKER

Benet senior John Duvic – Tied the school record with a 54-yard field goal while also converting from 53 and 50 yards … Dozen field goals were from 35 yards and beyond … Ended up 17-of-22 on fields goals and 25-of-28 on PAT kicks.

ATHLETE

Naperville Central junior Michael Kolzow — Do-it-all had 61 catches for 755 yards and nine TDs while adding three interceptions and four pass breakups … Had two interceptions to help Redhawks hold off Marist in 8A semifinals … Also threw two TD passes, returned punts and kicks and even punted.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Naperville Central senior Nate Teske – At 6-foot, 240 pounds, was huge presence for defense that was challenged in DVC and throughout postseason … Had 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Neuqua Valley senior Godfrey Collins – Wildcats were known as an offensive powerhouse, but defense was impressive, too … Led team with 89 tackles, including 10 for loss, and six sacks.

Waubonsie Valley senior Anthony Napolitano – Never stopped going and pulled double duty by serving on O-line … Finished with 35 tackles, nine for loss, five hurries and three sacks.

Benet senior Nick Surges – Whatever coach Pat New asked Surges to do, he did and did well, especially at defensive end … Flew around for 54 tackles, including 17 for loss.

LINEBACKERS

Waubonsie Valley senior Hugh Griffin – Brought up as a sophomore due to nose for the ball … Three-year starter had 62 solo tackles … Named the Upstate Eight Valley’s Defensive MVP and honorable-mention All-State.

Naperville Central senior Jack Wooldridge – DVC’s Defensive Player of the Year led unit that yielded 21 or less points in 11 of 14 games, shut out four opponents and held five playoff foes to 68 points.

Neuqua Valley junior Derrek Warkenthien – Built like a brick at 5-8, 202 pounds, Warkenthien missed one game but still finished with 85 tackles, 13 for a loss … Added 5 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Naperville Central senior Dillon Grooss – Biggest play of career was return of blocked field goal for 83-yard TD in 8A title game … For team that dominated turnover battle, Grooss led with 5 interceptions, 3.5 blocked kicks and two fumble recoveries … Turned four turnovers into TDs.

Naperville North senior Danny Schertz – Teams had to be careful throwing in direction of 6-1, 190-pound safety … Led Huskies with 69 tackles, nine pass breakups and four interceptions … Helped Huskies to playoffs.

Neuqua Valley senior Andrew Fraczek – The 6-foot, 185-pounder packed wallop in secondary, finishing with 53 tackles, seven pass breakups and a fumble recovery … Blocked field goal against Simeon to save Wildcats’ season … Could make name playing rugby in long run.

PUNTER

Metea Valley junior Michael Sfikas – Mustangs won close games and hung in others, with field position as key … Punted 29 times for 36.2 average and long of 61 … Also served as kicker, making 32-of-36 PATs and 7-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-5 from 30-39 yards.

ATHLETE

Naperville North senior Sharad Crosby – Huskies coach Sean Drendel had bigger need in secondary so Crosby made seamless, selfless transition to cornerback … He had 32 tackles and two interceptions … As season progressed, rushed 45 times for 207 yards and four TDs.

HONORABLE MENTION

Jake Bashaw (Naperville North, junior, OL), Evan Cherney (Neuqua Valley, senior, LB), Kevin Clifford (Naperville Central, junior, RB), Nolan Dean (Neuqua Valley, senior, RB/LB), Nick Dodson (Metea Valley, junior, WR), Jack Eddy (Waubonsie Valley, junior, QB), Colin Geier (Benet, senior, LB), Christian Gibbs (Waubonsie Valley, senior, WR), Colin Glowienke (Metea Valley, senior, LB), Devon Griffin (Neuqua Valley, senior, DL), Ryan Kuhl (Neuqua Valley, senior, TE), Jon Lubanza (Naperville Central, senior, DB), Bobby McMillen (Naperville Central, junior, LB), Ryan Minick (Naperville Central, senior, OL), Peyton Mitchell (Metea Valley, senior, DB), Erin Morgan (Metea Valley, junior, DL), Jay Parker (Metea Valley, senior, RB), Alex Peterson (Naperville Central, senior, OL), Broc Rutter (Neuqua Valley, junior, QB), T.J. Scruggs (Neuqua Valley, senior, RB), Noah Szott (Waubonsie Valley, senior, LB), Brad Sznajder (Benet, junior, RB), Demario Webb (Waubonsie Valley, senior, LB), Joe Weidenbach (Benet, senior, WR/DB), Brock Westwood (Waubonsie Valley, senior, DB).