The 2024 Northwest Herald All-Area Football Team

First-team offense

QB–Jackson Alcorn, Burlington Central, sr.

Unanimously named Fox Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, the three-year varsity starter threw for 2,246 yards, 22 TDs and only one interception, completing 64.4% of his passes, as the Rockets made the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. They then won their first postseason game in 18 years. Alcorn (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) also rushed for 307 yards and four TDs. Named Class 6A All-State by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, he threw for a school-record 469 yards and six TDs in a Week 7 win over Prairie Ridge. He is committed to Wisconsin-Platteville.

RB–Holden Boone, Cary-Grove, sr.

The three-year varsity starter was a breakaway threat in the Trojans' triple-option attack, as he helped the defending state champions reach the Class 6A semifinals. Boone (5-11, 175) rushed for a Fox Valley Conference-best 1,410 yards, averaging 12.3 per carry, and scored 13 TDs. He had 227 rushing yards in C-G’s semifinal loss to Geneva.

RB–Hunter Carley, Richmond-Burton, so.

Carley hunted end zones – and found them. The speedy tailback scored 20 touchdowns, as he led a ground attack that helped the Rockets average 33.8 points per game in winning the Kishwaukee River Conference championship. The 5-9, 190-pound sophomore rushed for 1,097 yards, averaging 7.9 per carry.

RB–David Randecker, Woodstock North, jr.

Randecker ran – fast, powerfully and efficiently. The Thunder set the school record with eight wins, and the two-way starter played a large role. He rushed for 1,345 yards (6.4 per carry) and 15 TDs as the Thunder tied for second place in the KRC. Named Class 5A All-State honorable mention, the 6-1, 195-pounder also notched 33 solo tackles, including three for loss, as a linebacker.

WR–Wyatt Fleck, Huntley, jr.

Huntley got itself an unexpected addition when Fleck transferred from St. Viator. As a first-year Red Raider, the athletic 6-1, 180-pound junior emerged as QB Braylon Bowers' favorite target. Fleck caught 48 passes for 644 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 13 receptions for 167 yards and three TDs in a 44-43 loss to FVC champion Cary-Grove in Week 7.

WR–Ryan Franze, Johnsburg, so.

The sure-handed sophomore led the area in receptions (66), receiving yards (849) and TDs (13). The 5-10, 175-pound Franze combined with QB Carter Block to give the Skyhawks a vertical threat every time they were on the field together. Franze was named Class 4A All-State honorable mention, helping Johnsburg win six games and earn a playoff berth.

OL–Lucas Burton, Cary-Grove, sr.

Burton bullies. A state-qualifying heavyweight wrestler and state-champion offensive lineman as a junior, the 5-11, 282-pounder continued to knock down opponents in helping the Trojans' punishing triple-option attack pin losses on 12 teams. As C-G’s center, he helped lead the way for a ground game that rushed for 4,309 yards.

OL–Ty Drayton, Cary-Grove, sr.

A three-year varsity player for the Trojans with an impressive 76-inch wingspan, the 6-1, 245-pound senior was an anchor up front on both sides of the ball. Offensively, his blocking helped C-G rush for 4,309 yards. Defensively, Drayton, who played linebacker and defensive line, had 50 tackles, including 11 for loss and two sacks, as he helped C-G earn a state-semifinal berth. He was named All-State honorable mention.

OL–Zach Helland, Prairie Ridge, sr.

Helland had a heck of a varsity football run. A sophomore starting offensive tackle for the Wolves in the 2022 Class 6A title game, he finished his prep career by helping Prairie Ridge win eight games. A two-time All-Fox Valley Conference selection, Helland (6-2, 250) was named Class 5A Academic All-State.

OL–Tommy McNeil, Crystal Lake Central, sr.

Hungry? The 6-2, 220-pounder serves up pancakes. Crystal Lake Central counted 11 pancake blocks that McNeil delivered on the football field this season. The two-way lineman also played linebacker and excelled at that position, too. A repeat All-Area first-team selection and four-year varsity player, he notched 84 tackles, including eight for loss for the Tigers.

OL–Michael Weightman, Dundee-Crown, sr.

At 6-4 and 310 pounds, the massive senior was a physical presence who excelled up front on both sides of the ball. Dundee-Crown coach Michael Steinhaus said Weightman had more than 60 pancake blocks in paving the way for the Chargers' running game. Weightman has received interest from Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois.

K–David McCoy, Burlington Central, sr.

The “Real McCoy?” Perfection on PAT kicks suggests yes. The senior was reliable as they come for Burlington Central’s kicking game this season. He made all 43 of his PAT kicks and was successful on 7 of 10 field goals. He also booted 25 touchbacks and averaged 38 yards per punt, as the Rockets won eight games and had their best season in 10 years.

Second-team offense

QB–Braylon Bower, Huntley, sr.

RB–T.O. Boddie, Jacobs, sr.

RB–Caden Dumelle, Jacobs, jr.

RB–Blake Livdahl, Richmond-Burton, so.

WR–AJ Demirov, Crystal Lake South, sr.

WR–Danny Rosas, Harvard, sr.

OL–Everett Flannery, Woodstock, sr.

OL–Logan Garcia, Richmond-Burton, sr.

OL–Zach Hultgren, Burlington Central, jr.

OL–Brady Kentgen, Marengo, jr.

OL–Aiden Ramirez, McHenry, jr.

K–JJ Semradek, Crystal Lake South, sr.

First-team defense

DB–Luke Gormsen, Jacobs, sr.

The 5-10, 185-pound senior graded out just about perfectly on both sides of the ball – and in the classroom. An Academic All-State selection, he also was named Class 7A All-State. Gormsen’s season included 80 tackles, including two for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception, seven pass breakups and two pass knockdowns. As a tight end, he caught three TDs and helped the Golden Eagles rush for 2,657 yards. He was a three-year varsity starter.

DB–LJ Kerr, Burlington Central, sr.

The three-year varsity player was either catching the ball or making plays around it. He shined as a wide receiver as the top target of QB Jackson Alcorn and as a defensive back for the eight-game winners. Kerr (6-0, 175) caught 41 passes for 742 yards and nine TDs and also rushed for a score. His defensive numbers included 49 tackles (four for loss) and two interceptions. He was named Class 6A All-State honorable mention. He is committed to Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

DB–David Lopez, Marengo, sr.

The 6-1, 170-pound QB/S was named KRC Offensive Player of the Year and was a candidate for the defensive honor, as well, Indians coach Paul Forsythe said. All Lopez did was account for 2,015 yards of total offense (1,172 passing, 843 rushing) and 28 total TDs in Marengo’s spread attack, while notching a team-leading 60 tackles (eight for loss), three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception. He was named Class 4A All-State honorable mention.

LB–Charlie Ciske, Cary-Grove, sr.

Few players led – or tackled – better than the three-year varsity starter, who helped the Trojans win the Class 6A title in 2023 as a junior. Named IHSFCA All-State, the hard-hitting Ciske (5-10, 205) led the Trojans in tackles (93) and tackles for loss (15). He had two interceptions in C-G’s second-round playoff win over Antioch. His stats also included two sacks, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

LB–Jace Kranig, Prairie Ridge, sr.

The 6-2, 220-pound senior was named Defensive Player of the Year in the FVC after putting together a season that included 14 tackles for loss and 5½ sacks among his 71 stops. He led a defense that allowed an average of only 13.8 points per game during the regular season. A repeat All-Area first-team selection, Kranig was named Class 5A All-State, as the Wolves won eight games and a playoff game.

LB–McKade Naus, Burlington Central, sr.

Naus made noise on a defense that was one of the area’s best. A three-year varsity player, the 6-1, 200-pounder rang up 67 tackles, including five for loss. He also had two pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, as the Rockets allowed an average of only 13.8 points per game during the regular season and won a playoff game.

LB–Cayden Parks, Crystal Lake Central, sr.

Few athletes take opponents to the ground better than the 6-foot senior, who was a three-year varsity starter. Parks piled up 91 tackles, including five for loss, in earning All-Area first-team honors for the second year in a row. A standout wrestler as well, he was the Class 2A state runner-up at 190 pounds last season. He also played fullback this fall, averaging 15 yards per carry and 21 yards per catch.

DL–CJ Ameachi, Johnsburg, sr.

Quarterbacks run when they see CJ. Ameachi (6-3, 215), who was named Defensive Player of the Year in the KRC after recording hefty totals of 22 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks, as the Skyhawks earned a Class 4A playoff berth. He also forced two fumbles, and Johnsburg coach Sam Lesniak called Ameachi his team’s best offensive lineman, as well.

DL–P.J. Barnes, Jacobs, sr.

For opposing quarterbacks, it was best to get out of the way when they saw Barnes. Golden Eagles coach Brian Zimmerman said his 6-3, 243-pounder delivered five “big hits” this season. Barnes' other defensive numbers included 35 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks, and three QB knockdowns. As a tight end, he helped Jacobs rush for 2,657 yards. He scored six TDs (four receiving, two rushing).

DL–Carter Pope, Huntley, sr.

It’s good to have a Pope on your side. The 6-foot, 205-pounder showed his power the past two seasons for the Red Raiders. A two-time All-FVC performer, Pope scooped up a fumble and scored a TD in Week 8 against Dundee-Crown in helping Huntley all but officially secure a playoff berth with its fifth win.

DL–Gavin Tinch, Prairie Ridge, sr.

Prairie Ridge coach Mike Frericks called the 6-4, 295-pound senior a “dominant run stopper.” Tinch started four seasons on varsity, playing in the Class 6A title game as a sophomore, earning All-Area second-team honors last season and capping his Wolves career by racking up 12 tackles for loss and a sack this season. He also recovered a fumble for the eight-game winners. He was named All-State honorable mention.

P–Peyton Seaburg, Cary-Grove, sr.

The punter rarely punted because of the quarterback – who was the same guy. While Seaburg effectively served as the Trojans' punter and holder, he was most lethal running C-G’s triple-option offense. He didn’t fumble the entire season, while carrying the ball 114 times for 829 yards (7.3 per carry) and 23 TDs. He also threw for 382 yards and five TDs. C-G manufactured a 19-game winning streak with him under center, winning a state title in 2023. He was named Class 6A All-State.

Second-team defense

DB–Maxwell Dennison, Woodstock North, sr.

DB–Christian Dupuis, Hampshire, sr.

DB–Carter Kelley, Crystal Lake Central, sr.

DB–Jon Miller, Crystal Lake South, sr.

LB–Wyatt Armbrust, Alden-Hebron, sr.

LB–Anthony Jobe, Dundee-Crown, sr.

LB–Conner McLean, McHenry, sr.

LB–Zach Samaan, Burlington Central, sr.

LB–Matt Scardina, Jacobs, sr.

DL–Aidan Nuno, Burlington Central, jr.

DL–Walter Pollack, Prairie Ridge, sr.

P–Adam Cooke, Harvard, sr.

Honorable mention

Logan Abrams, Cary-Grove, jr., FB

Mason Allen, Hampshire, sr., DE

Carter Block, Johnsburg, jr., QB

Rocco Boss, Burlington Central, sr., WR/DB

Jack Coates, Jacobs, fr., LB

Logan Crowell, Alden-Hebron, sr., DE

Vince DeLordo, Jacobs, sr., OL/DL

Hayden DeMarsh, Dundee-Crown, sr., QB

Michael Dunkin, Cary-Grove, sr., DB

Keegan Felten, Johnsburg, sr., LB/OL

Dan French, Marian Central, jr., LB/RB

Kelley Gassner, Huntley, sr., OL

Dillon Gavers, Woodstock North, sr., OL

Ryan Grismer, Marengo, jr., OL/DE

Parker Halihan, Woodstock North, jr., QB

Ray Hannemann, Richmond-Burton, jr., QB

Ostin Hansen, Cary-Grove, sr., LB

Rob Hernon, Marian Central, sr., DL/OL

Jack Hissong, Cary-Grove, jr., OL

AJ Horcher, Richmond-Burton, sr., NG

Justin Jakubowicz, Marian Central, sr., OL/DL

Luke Johnson, Richmond-Burton, jr., FS/RB

Jacob Jones, McHenry, sr., RB/LB

Max Kinney, Marian Central, so., DB/WR

Ben Kolodziej, Crystal Lake Central, sr. DE/TE

Eddie Kowalczyk, Marian Central, so., DB/WR/RB

Zach Lillie, Alden-Hebron, sr., LB

Drew Litchfield, Marengo, sr., OL/DL

Mason Maldonado, Huntley, jr., DL

Tymere Marshall, Hampshire, so., RB

Duke Mays, Johnsburg, so., LB

Jordan Oruche, Huntley, sr., WR

Jack Pavlis, Prairie Ridge, sr., OG

Michael Pintor, Woodstock North, jr., LB

Ryan Prowicz, Hampshire, sr., QB

Lucas Retzler, Jacobs, jr., OL/DL

Stewart Reuter, Woodstock, sr., RB/LB

Connor Sacco, Marengo, jr., LB/RB

Braden Schnake, Woodstock North, so., MLB

Terrion Spencer, Dundee-Crown, sr., WR/DB

Braydon Stebbins, McHenry, sr., DL

Jack Therkildsen, Burlington Central, sr., OL

Andrew Thielsen, Marian Central, sr., LB/FB/K

Luca Vivaldelli, Cary-Grove, sr., TE

Charlie Walrod, Woodstock, sr., WR/QB/S/P

Preston Walsh, Cary-Grove, sr., S

Caden West, Burlington Central, sr., WR/DB

Ryan Wisniewski, Richmond-Burton, sr., TE/DE