Six weeks are in the books, the playoff picture is starting to take shape ... and several players are starting to make a major impact this season.
Who exactly?
Well, the play of Thornton’s Darren Jones (quarterback) and Jamal Gray (wide receiver) has caught the eye of recruiting analyst Tim O’Halloran of rivals.com.
O’Halloran called Jones “very impressive” and has been “surprised” by the play of Gray. Other players who have been impressive this season, according to O’Halloran, are Barrington running back Sam Ojuri and Lincoln-Way East defensive back/linebacker Ezra Thompson, who is committed to Miami of Ohio.
“Sam’s a good back and a legit Division I back,” O’Halloran said. “[Thompson] will probably be Big Ten-type football player when all is said and done.”
Hinsdale Central junior quarterback John Whitelaw has also starred.
“He’s going to be a very good quarterback,” O’Halloran said. “I saw that in him last year [as a sophomore].”
ANY OTHERS?
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CSTV said Jones, Whitelaw, Fremd lineman Christian Lombard, Lemont fullback Tyler Burns, Lemont linebacker Luke Anderson, Barrington offensive lineman Gus Handler, Barrington quarterback Cody Seeger, Antioch running back Cameron White, Lake Forest quarterback Tommy Rees, Lake Forest defensive lineman Scott Covert and Fenwick defensive lineman Jack Dittmer have all stood out this season.
Covert recently gave an oral commitment to Iowa.
ANY TEAMS?
O’Halloran said he has been impressed by Lincoln-Way East, Maine South and Oswego.
“Maine South is as good as they ever have been,” he said. “Offensively they are as good as advertised.”
O’Halloran called Griffins’ quarterback Spencer Stanek a potential Player of the Year candidate.
“He’s unbelievably accurate,” he said. “He’s just a gamer.”
As far as Oswego, "they could give some teams some problems come the playoffs," O'Halloran said.
BIRTHDAY BOYS
Two quarterbacks -- Mount Carmel’s Jordan Lynch and Bolingbrook’s Brad Geever -- shined on their birthdays Friday night.
Geever, a junior, celebrated his 17th birthday by throwing two second-half touchdown passes to rally Bolingbrook to a 14-3 victory against Lincoln-Way Central.
Lynch, who turned 18, threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, as the Caravan routed De La Salle 44-8 in a Catholic League crossover game.
WORKING OVERTIME(S)
It took four overtimes to decide the winner of Neuqua Valley-St. Charles East on Friday night.
In what ultimately became a duel between Neuqua Valley quarterback Alex Lincoln and St. Charles East running back Wes Allen, the Wildcats pulled out 49-42 win by outscoring the Saints 28-21 after regulation. The game was tied at 21 at the end of regulation.
Lincoln (20-for-40, 256 yards, seven touchdowns) threw four touchdowns after regulation, while Wes Allen (38 carries, 254 yards, six touchdowns) found the end zone three times on runs of eight, six and one.
Joshua Schaffer (nine receptions, 159 yards, four touchdowns) also stood out Neuqua Valley.
ANOTHER SHOOTOUT
In another high-scoring affair, Lake Forest -- led by standout junior quarterback Tommy Rees -- rallied to defeat Wauconda 65-52 on Friday.
The teams combined for 55 points — 28 from the Scouts and 27 from the Bulldogs — in the second quarter alone. Wauconda led 40-35 at the break.
Rees threw four touchdown passes and finished 19-for-35 passing for 430 yards. Running back John Cavalaris scored three touchdowns and receiver Connor Moutvic caught two scoring passes, including a 99-yarder.
Garrett Dorsey returned back-to-back kickoffs for touchdowns for Wauconda (3-3). Dorsey is also Wauconda’s quarterback.
SEEING STARS (Vote on top player of Week 6, see poll. Voting ends Wednesday night. The winner will be announced Thursday.)
* Zach Dolph, LB, Joliet Catholic: Fumble recovery, interception in 29-14 win over Marist Friday.
* Brad Geever, QB, Bolingbrook: 9-for-13, 229, two second-half TD passes in 14-3 win over Lincoln-Way Central Friday.
* Alex Lincoln, Neuqua Valley, QB: 20-for-40, 256 yards, seven TDs in 49-42 4-OT win over St. Charles East Friday.
* Adam Nitsche, RB/DB, St. Patrick: 19-yard TD reception, 39-yard TD run and a 36-yard interception return for TD in 34-19 win over St. Joseph Friday.
* Tommy Rees, QB, Lake Forest: 19-for-35, 430 yards, four TDs in 65-52 win over Wauconda Friday.
* Matt Rossi, QB, Palatine: 22-of-28, 324 yards, three TDs and a key interception on defense in 41-35 win over Barrington Saturday.
* Brandon Sims, RB, Walther Lutheran: 18 carries, 252 yards, sevens TDs (five rushing, two receiving) in 69-28 win over Lake Forest Academy on Saturday.
* Steve Taylor, K, Simeon: Made a game-winning 25-yard field goal in 45-43 win over Morgan Park Friday.
* Cameron White, RB, Antioch: 15 carries, 135 yards, two total TDs, including a 28-yard pass, in 28-14 win over Grant Friday.
* Pat Hickey, DL, Loyola: Fumble recovery, anchored defensive line that allowed only 5 rushing yards in 24-0 win over St. Rita on Saturday.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
‘‘You live for those types of moments, where you have the opportunity to show how competitive you are.” -- Hinsdale Central defensive lineman Pat Clegg about a key goal-line stand against Downers Grove North.
‘‘This is one for the books. ... For us to have a freshman [Steve Taylor], a sophomore [Horatio Banks] and a junior [Deonte Minter] step up says a lot.’’ -- Simeon coach Jesse Chick about the Wolverine’s upset of Morgan Park.
‘‘We needed to find out what kind of team we are. And I think we answered those questions today.’’ -- Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly about the Pirates upset of Barrington.
LOOKING AHEAD
Top games of Week 7
Maine South at Glenbrook South
Lincoln-Way Easy at Bolingbrook
Antioch at Vernon Hills
Loyola vs. Mount Carmel
Wheaton North at Wheaton Warrenville South
St. Patrick at Marist
Nazareth at Notre Dame
Crystal Lake Central at Huntley
Sandburg at Lincoln-Way Central
Aurora Christian at Walther Lutheran
Hubbard vs. Morgan Park
Crystal Lake South at Cary-Grove
T.F. South at Thornton
ajahns@suntimes.com
Bears backed into corner, need four straight wins
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