IL – Top Defensive Performers of Week 9

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week closed out the regular season for Illinois high school football. With the first round of the playoffs just days away, let's wrap up week 9 by look at the top defensive performers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Austin Kittl","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Joliet West High School ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Austin Kittl helped put a stamp on one of their best seasons in school history. Beating Plainfield Central 35-12, Kittl help lead his defense will a standout performance in Week 9. Kittl flew around the field all night making big plays and feeding off of the teams momentum. In his last game before playoffs Kittl ended the night with 8 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and an interception.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["271311"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Mt. Zion made a statement in their last game of the regular season beating Mater Dei 41-6. A strong defensive showing for the Braves defense was lead by [player_tooltip player_id='271311' first='Patrick' last='Brock']. He ended the night with 10 tackles and 2 sacks from his defensive end position. Brock was able to apply constant pressure on the quarterback and he was stout against the run. Brock has been a defensive standout all year and he will look to keep that going as Mt Zion takes on Effingham in the first round of the playoffs.rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["830848"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Last Friday, Quincy Notre Dame was able to secure a playoff birth by defeating Burroughs 23-7. The defense had a great showing led by [player_tooltip player_id='830848' first='Wyatt' last='Mueller']. Mueller had missed some games this season due to injury but having him back in the line-up has been a boost for ND's defense. In Week 9, he led the team with tackles, finishing the night with 15. Quincy Notre Dame will look to prove they belong in the playoffs at 4-5 as they face Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond in round 1.rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["153820"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='153820' first='Navontae' last='Nesbit'] has been the u0022X-factoru0022 for Mt. Vernon all year, not too many players impact their teams as much as he does. Week 9 was no different for Nesbit as he had a monster performance against Alton. He impacted the game in all three phases the game.rnrnOffense: 110 yards rushing, 4o yards receiving - 3 TD'srnrnDefense: Interception returned for 69 yards for a TDrnrnSpecial Teams: 85 yard kickoff return for a TD","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6538fba203834"} /-->