Eye Catching Performances from State Quarterfinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was quarterfinal action across the state over the weekend.&nbsp; Here are some of the eye catching performances!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='499431' first='Johnny' last='O'Brien'] (Fremd – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Northwestern commit fires his way into the semis with another big game going 23/42 for 276 yards and 2 touchdowns.&nbsp; Also ran for 72 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1598818' first='Michael' last='Vander Luitgaren'] (Batavia – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Batavia signal caller had 139 yards in the air and 59 on the ground along with 4 touchdowns in their win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='800191' first='Jonas' last='Williams'] (Lincoln Way East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top senior quarterback in the state became the all time leading passer in Illinois state history in his final game against Mt. Carmel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1627970' first='Steven' last='Armbruster'] (St. Rita – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Rita quarter back let it rip for a big game of 267 passing yards along with 3 passing scores and running in two as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='819772' first='Tyson' last='Ward'] (Bolingbrook – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders signal caller had 134 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1001161' first='Dane' last='Eisenmenger'] (Tolono Unity – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a show the Unity QB put on as he was 13/16 for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns in the air while also running one in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='475585' first='Nate' last='Lang'] (IC Catholic – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior quarterback was 15/29 for 131 yards and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='707326' first='TJ' last='Lewis'] (Bolingbrook – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior back closed out his season with a strong showing of 191 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1335440' first='Nathan' last='Samuels'] (Mt. Carmel – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samuels went for 91 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Caravan continue to roll.&nbsp; He also caught 7 balls for 105 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB Dawson Criddle (Byron – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Criddle ripped off 112 yards on the ground along with a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB Kole Aken (Byron – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other Byron back had 9 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB Caden Considine (Byron – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beast mode for Considine as he had 17 carries for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB Crewe Eckstein (Tolono Unity – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eckstein had 168 yards on 17 carries along with 2 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1732085' first='Brendan' last='Mecher'] (Lockport – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lockport senior back had 138 yards and 3 touchdowns in a win over Barrington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1619312' first='Brandon' last='Johnson'] (St. Rita – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson had 128 yards on 21 carries for the Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR Bryce Kidd (Simeon – 2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kidd is a sophomore wide out that had a solid outing against East St. Louis with 3 grabs for 115 yards along with a forced fumble on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR Carter MacDonald (Fremd – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big outing from the Fremd junior with 5 grabs for 78 yards and two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR Marquan Brewster (Fremd – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brewster is a Western Illinois commit that had 8 catches for 105 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1669549' first='Kortez' last='Rupert'] (East St. Louis – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana commit had a pair of long touchdowns in their blowout win over Simeon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB Darrell McCullough (Lockport – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The explosive defender made a massive play on special teams coming off the middle to block a kick and then took it to the house for a touchdown.&nbsp; Bats down passes coming off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1400840' first='James' last='Franklin'] (St. Rita – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Rita corner had a big game on Saturday against Hersey.&nbsp; He racked up 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB pressure, and 5 total tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB Andrew Culotta (Batavia – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Culotta had a 67 yard pick 6, recovered a fumble on a punt, picked up an onside kick recovery, made 6 tackles, and had a pass breakup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1358093' first='Mariano' last='Velasco'] (Oswego – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another game changing day on both sides for Velasco with two offensive TDs on catches along with a pick 6 on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='811647' first='Jake' last='Thies'] (Fenwick – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While he will play safety at the next level he was a monster in the quarterfinals at running back.&nbsp; He had 19 rushes for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH KC Kekstadt (IC Catholic – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He had 15 carries for 106 yards in their loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH Grant Bowen (IC Catholic – 2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowen is a fast rising name in the 2028 class who closed out his sophomore season with 5 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->