2024 Kane County Chronicle All-Area football team

First team offense

QB - Tony Chahino, sr., Geneva

Chahino made an instant impact in his lone varsity season under center with the Vikings. The senior threw for 3,600 yards, 49 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 63% completion rating and added six rushing touchdowns in 14 games. His play was crucial in helping the Vikings to their first DuKane Conference title, as well as their first trip to the state title game since 2008.

QB - Ethan Plumb, sr., St. Charles North

A four-year starting quarterback for the North Stars, Plumb finished his final high school season throwing for 2,265 yards, 28 touchdowns and three interceptions while also running for 502 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games. Along with breaking almost every QB school record and helping the North Stars earn their second DuKane Conference title in three seasons, Plumb was named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 7A All-State team.

RB - Michael Rumoro, sr., Geneva

Rumoro rounded out Geneva’s stacked offense by providing a solid rushing attack throughout the season. The senior finished with 1,049 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 178 carries while also putting up 252 receiving yards and two scores.

RB - Nathan Whitwell, sr., Batavia

Whitwell proved to be a tailback the Bulldogs could rely, helping Batavia win games multiple times throughout the season and playing a vital role in the team winning the DuKane Conference title for the fifth time in seven years. The senior finished with 1,737 rushing yards on 303 carries and found the end zone 28 times in 14 games to help Batavia reach the state title game for the second time in three seasons.

WR - Isaiah Brown, sr., Batavia

Brown became a player that Batavia could rely on to do anything and everything for the Bulldogs throughout the season. The senior finished with 65 catches for 971 yards and 13 touchdowns and added two passing touchdowns on four passing attempts. Brown also was the team’s punter, averaging 31 yards a kick and having seven land inside the 20-yard line.

WR - Keaton Reinke, jr., St. Charles North

After suffering from injuries in his sophomore season, Reinke fully rebounded in his junior season to become one of the top receiving threats in the DuKane Conference thanks to the connection he built with quarterback Ethan Plumb. Reinke finished the season with 80 catches for 1,218 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also returning three kickoffs for touchdowns and adding a passing touchdown. He was named IHSFCA Class 7A All-State honorable mention.

WR - Talyn Taylor, sr., Geneva

The 2024 Kane County Chronicle Football Player of the Year, Taylor led a talented Vikings receiver room and proved why he’s one of the top-ranked wideouts in the country. The five-star Georgia commit had 84 catches for 1,617 yards and 24 touchdowns while also returning two kickoffs for scores. Taylor received Class 6A All-State honors, was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the DuKane Conference and was a main catalyst in the Vikings making their first state title game appearance since 2008.

WR - Zach Washington, jr., St. Francis

Washington was efficient in a talented Spartans wide receivers group and proved why he’s one of the top sought-after receiving prospects in the state. He caught 32 passes for 655 yards, averaging 20.5 yards a catch, and had nine touchdowns while also returning three kicks for touchdowns. Washington garnered IHSFCA Class 5A All-State honors while helping the Spartans to a state semifinal appearance.

OL - Cooper Kowalczyk, jr., St. Charles North

Kowalczyk was one of the anchors for a North Stars team that averaged 337 yards and 34 points a game this season. The junior finished with a 93% grade out and had 34 pancakes on the season.

OL - Ryan Myers, jr., Batavia

Myers made an instant impact on a newer Bulldogs offensive line that grew into its own as the season progressed. The Bulldogs averaged 188.4 rushing yards a game behind Myers and the offensive line while throwing for 2,617 yards and scoring 70 total touchdowns this season.

OL - Joe Pettit, sr., Geneva

The DuKane Conference Outstanding Offensive Lineman of the Year, Pettit played a big role in leading the offense this season. Behind Pettit and the offensive line, the Vikings averaged 371 yards and 41 points a game to help them reach the Class 6A state title game. The IHSFCA Class 6A All-State honoree also had 28 tackles on defense.

OL - Jaylen Torres, jr., St. Francis

Torres provided value on both sides of the ball for the Spartans in their push to the Class 5A state semifinals. He had 68 pancakes/knockdowns on the offensive side and had 63 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, 11 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble on defense. Torres was named to the IHSFCA Class 5A All-State team.

First team defense

DL - Xander Blanquel, sr., Batavia

Blanquel proved how easy it was for him to find the backfield multiple times throughout the season. He finished the season with 63 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was named an IHSFCA Class 7A All-State honorable mention.

DL - Jake Buckley, jr., Kaneland

Buckley was a force on both lines for the Knights. In addition to his blocking prowess on the offensive line, he had 41 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks on defense.

DL - Malachi Smith, sr., Batavia

Smith built off a solid first season with the Bulldogs with an even better display in his senior season. He finished with 35 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 26 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.

LB - Aidan McClure, jr., St. Charles North

McClure was a stable force on a young North Stars defense throughout the season. The junior finished with 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four interceptions, three blocked punts and four defensive touchdowns.

LB - Michael Roche, sr., Marmion

Roche provided a steady presence on the Cadets' defense to help the team make it back to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. The linebacker had 101 tackles, two sacks, a pick-six and two receptions for touchdowns on offense. Roche was named the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Red Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year.

LB - Ryan Palmeri, sr., St. Francis

A consistent threat for a Spartans defense that shined multiple times throughout the season, Palmeri had 103 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his final season.

LB - Troy Velez, sr., Geneva

Velez made the transition to solely playing defense his senior season and the effort paid off. He provided the energy on the Vikings defense, finishing with 84 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception and a scoop-and-score off a fumble he caused. Velez added a rushing touchdown in the campaign.

DB - Chase Osborne, sr., Batavia

Osborne proved to be a defensive menace for offenses throughout the season thanks to his keen ability to be the first man to the ball. The senior finished the season with 145 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Osborne was named the DuKane Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned IHSFCA Class 7A All-State honors.

DB - LJ Kerr, sr., Burlington Central

The Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit proved to be a ball hawk both as a wide receiver as the top target of quarterback Jackson Alcorn and as a defensive back for the Rockets as they made their first playoff appearance since 2006. Kerr caught 41 passes for 742 yards and nine touchdowns and also rushed for a score. His defensive numbers included 49 tackles, four tackles for loss and two interceptions. He was named Class 6A All-State honorable mention.

DB - Bryan Scales, sr., Marmion

A true Swiss Army knife for the Cadets, Scales was crucial to the team’s success throughout the season. He finished with 1,114 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns on offense and kick return duties. On defense, Scales had 51 tackles and grabbed five interceptions while returning one for a score. Scales was named the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Red Anthony Lawless Most Valuable Player.

DB - Dane Turner, jr., Geneva

A leader for the Vikings in a relatively young defensive back room, Turner finished the season with five interceptions to go with 71 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass defended and a fumble recovery.

Special Teams - Lucas Tenbrock, jr., St. Charles North

The DuKane Conference Specialist of the Year, Tenbrock was 42 of 42 on extra-point attempts on the season and missed only one field goal in six attempts. He had 15 touchbacks and six successful onside kicks on kickoffs and averaged 43 yards a punt on the season.

Second team offense

QB - Jackson Alcorn, sr., Burlington Central

QB - Brady Palmer, jr., St. Francis

RB - Joell Holloman, sr., St. Charles North

RB - Trey Seifrid, jr., Aurora Central Catholic

WR - Brett Berggren, jr., Batavia

WR - Dylan Sanagustin, sr., Kaneland

WR - Finnegan Weppner, sr., Geneva

WR - Ian Willis, sr., St. Francis

TE - Mateusz Nycz, sr., Marmion

OL - Matt Anderson, jr., St. Francis

OL - James Bucholz, sr., Geneva

OL - Zach Hultgren, jr., Burlington Central

Second team defense

DL - Lex Griffith, jr., Geneva

DL - Gavin Pecor, jr., Batavia

DL - Declan Smith, jr., St. Charles North

LB - RJ Bohr, sr., Batavia

LB - Jake Feller, sr., Batavia

LB - Sean Lane, sr., Geneva

LB - McKade Naus, sr., Burlington Central

DB - Daniel Escaro, jr., St. Charles North

DB - Josh Kahley, sr., Batavia

DB - Dylan Reyes, jr., Geneva

DB - Seth Valeri, sr., St. Francis

K - David McCoy, sr., Burlington Central

Honorable mention

QB: Bodi Anderson, jr., Batavia; Grant Bohr, jr., Aurora Central Catholic; Roy Magana fr., Marmion; Michael Vander Luitgaren, so., Batavia

RB: Carter Grabowski, jr., Kaneland; Greyson Kelly, jr., Batavia; Xander Salazar, jr., St. Charles East; Zach Samaan, sr., Burlington Central

WR: Sheko Gjokaj, jr., St. Charles East; Braden Harms, jr., St. Charles North; Bennett Konkey, so., Geneva; Dario Milivojevic, jr., St. Francis

OL: Steven Bannos, jr., Batavia; Michael Harris, jr., Marmion; Braydyn Martinson, sr., Batavia; Jack Therkildsen, sr., Burlington Central

DL: David Avitia, jr., Geneva; Rino Bianchi, sr., Geneva; Joe Brown, sr., Aurora Central Catholic; Aidan Nuno, jr., Burlington Central

LB: Gavin Burt, sr., Geneva; Jacob Jansey, sr., Batavia; Liam Kolinski, sr., St. Francis; Gunnar Tosaw, sr., St. Charles North

DB: Leo Bolsoni, jr., St. Charles East; Rocco Boss, sr., Burlington Central; Andrew Culotta, jr., Batavia; Sean Keegan, sr., St. Charles East

K: Sam Bruno, senior, Kaneland; Jayden Hodgdon, sr., Geneva, Caleb Peters, jr., Batavia