Northwest Herald All-Area Football Team

Northwest Herald All-Area Football Team

Player of the year: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Johnsburg, sr.

Coach of the year: Bruce Kay, Cary-Grove

First team

Offense

QB – Logan Kunzie

Woodstock, sr.

Kunzie (6-foot-3, 160 pounds) completed 208 of 359 passes (57.9 percent) 3,158 yards and 35 touchdowns with 17 interceptions. Kunzie was an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 5A All-State selection.

RB – Alex Hembrey

Cary-Grove, sr.

Hembrey (5-10, 170) rushed for 1,375 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 9 yards a carry for the IHSA Class 6A state champion Trojans. In C-G’s title game victory, Hembrey ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns.

RB – Gage Harrah

Crystal Lake Central, so.

Harrah (5-11, 200) was second in the area in rushing with 1,421 yards and 21 touchdowns. He averaged 9.2 yards a carry and helped Central win its first playoff game in 31 years.

WR – C.J. Fiedorowicz

Johnsburg, sr.

Fiedorowicz (6-6, 250) is a three-time All-Area first-teamer. He caught 44 passes for 889 yards and 15 touchdowns to help the Skyhawks make the playoff quarterfinals for the first time. A Class 4A All-State pick, he also started at safety.

WR – Mike Kremske

Woodstock, sr.

Kremske (6-1, 170) led the area in receptions (67), yards (1,117) and touchdowns (18) as the Blue Streaks advanced to the IHSA Class 5A playoff semifinals. Kremske also started for the Streaks at defensive back.

TE – Kyle Wismer

Richmond-Burton, sr.

The Rockets didn’t throw a lot, but when they did, Wismer (6-2, 200) was the top target. He caught 16 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns. He also was one of R-B’s top defenders at defensive end and a Class 4A All-State selection.

OL – Brad Jacobs

Richmond-Burton, sr.

Jacobs (6-5, 230) was a two-way, two-year starter on the lines for R-B, which made the Class 4A semifinals each of the past two seasons. Jacobs and his linemates paved the way for three 1,000-yard rushers.

OL – Hayden Baker

Cary-Grove, sr.

Baker (6-2, 245) was a Class 6A All-State pick and the leader of a line that helped the Trojans’ offense average almost 400 yards a game. He battled Providence Catholic All-Stater Steve Laski in the state final, and C-G gained 414 total yards.

OL – Jake Bernstein

Crystal Lake South, jr.

Bernstein (6-4, 265) helped the Gators’ line lead the way for an offense that averaged 321.4 yards a game. He will be one of three returning starters on the line next season.

OL – Matt Niemi

Crystal Lake Central, sr.

Niemi (5-11, 185) was small for a lineman, but Tigers coach Jon McLaughlin said he was their best blocker. Central finished third in area offense (350.1 yards a game) and won a share of the Fox Valley Conference Fox title.

OL – Greg Whalen

Marian Central, sr.

Whalen (6-5, 240) was a two-way starter for the Hurricanes, who finished 8-3 for the season. Whalen was a Class 5A All-State selection. He also started at defensive end for the Hurricanes.

Special teams

K/P – Thomas Kinney

Johnsburg, sr.

Kinney (5-10, 170) kicked nine field goals in 15 attempts and was 5 of 6 between 30 and 50 yards. Kinney also had touchbacks on 21 of his 51 kickoffs. He averaged 36.8 yards a punt.

Defense

DB – Kyle Peterson

Prairie Ridge, sr.

Prairie Ridge coach Chris Schremp considers Peterson (5-9, 160) one of the best defensive backs the Wolves ever had. He had five interceptions and 67 tackles for a Class 6A playoff semifinals team.

DB – Alec Giles

Crystal Lake South, sr.

Giles (5-10, 155) intercepted seven passes and returned three for touchdowns while playing for the area’s top defense in yards allowed (130.2 a game). He also was the Gators’ leading receiver with 28 catches for 506 yards and six touchdowns.

DB – Chad McCarron

Cary-Grove, sr.

McCarron (6-3, 184) line up at wide receiver most of the season, but played both ways in the playoffs and made some big plays on defense. His interception in the Class 6A state final wiped out a Providence Catholic touchdown.

DB – Vince Gabrys

Harvard, sr.

Gabrys (5-9, 175) was third on the Hornets with 72 tackles, and had three interceptions and one fumble recovery. He also led the area in rushing with 1,493 yards and 20 touchdowns and was a Class 4A All-State pick.

LB – J.D. Barchard

Crystal Lake South, sr.

Barchard (6-2, 228) is a repeat All-Area first team selection after leading the Gators’ defense, which allowed an area-low 130.2 yards a game. He also played some fullback, and led South’s defenders with 35 solo tackles.

LB – Kyle Leibforth

Cary-Grove, sr.

Leibforth (5-10, 195) had 41⁄2 sacks and led the Class 6A state champs with 62 tackles for the season. Leibforth had two interceptions, including one in the fourth quarter of the state title game that helped seal the victory.

LB – Nick Underwood

Cary-Grove, Sr.

Underwood (6-1, 216) had 571⁄2 tackles for the Class 6A state champs, who allowed 9.6 points and 170.1 yards a game. Underwood had two touchdowns on fumble recovery returns.

DL – Sam McCole

Crystal Lake South, Sr.

McCole (6-3, 280) had 31 solo tackles and 14 tackles-for-losses for the area’s top defense in yards allowed (130.2). South allowed only 85 points in 11 games.

DL – Jake Howe

McHenry, Sr.

Howe (6-3, 265) was a two-way star for the Warriors and had three sacks and 50 tackles. He also started at fullback and was the primary ballcarrier in a pass-oriented attack.

DL – Mike Liedtke

Woodstock, Sr.

Liedtke (6-4, 240) was a driving force on both sides for the Blue Streaks. He had 15 sacks and 50 tackles at defensive end. As a running back, he led Woodstock with 729 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. He committed to NCAA Division I Western Michigan before the season.

DL – Greg Drain

Prairie Ridge, Sr.

Drain (6-5, 250) was the first two-way starter for the Wolves in five years because he was so valuable. On defense, he was in on 104 tackles, 64 of which were solos.

Second team

Offense

QB – Tyler Krebs: Cary-Grove, sr.

RB – Kenny Riordan: Richmond-Burton, sr.

RB – Eric Chandler: Cary-Grove, sr.

WR – Trevor Marunde: McHenry, sr.

WR – Scott Rausch: Woodstock, sr.

TE – Adam Szudarski: Marian Central, sr.

OL – Rob Owens: Prairie Ridge, sr.

OL – Casey Elliott: Johnsburg, sr.

OL – Phil Hespen: Crystal Lake South, jr.

OL – Sean Considine: Cary-Grove, sr.

OL – Jeff Beres: McHenry, sr.

Defense

DB – Brandon Erickson: Crystal Lake South, sr.

DB – Dillion Lalor: Alden-Hebron, sr.

DB – Devon Vance: Prairie Ridge, jr.

DB – Justin Russell: Richmond-Burton, sr.

LB – John Walsh: Crystal Lake South, sr.

LB – Stu Gaulke: Cary-Grove, sr.

LB – Cody May: Crystal Lake Central, sr.

DL – Dallas Bogle: Crystal Lake Central, sr.

DL – Chris Friedle: Richmond-Burton, sr.

DL – Matt Leibforth: Cary-Grove, sr.

DL – Jared Hilton: Alden-Hebron, sr.

Special teams

K/P – Scott Rausch: Woodstock, sr.

Honorable mention

(In alphabetical order)

George Bielis: Johnsburg, QB, jr.

Ryan Burke: Hampshire, QB, sr.

Corey Cavitt: Marian Central, RB, jr.

Travis Cheesbro: Crystal Lake Central, OL, sr.

Tim Deering: Prairie Ridge, FB, sr.

Tom Discher: Woodstock, LB, sr.

Kevin Doran: Huntley, LB, sr.

Paul Ehrlich: Jacobs, DL, jr.

Justin Henderson: Prairie Ridge, RB, sr.

Chris Horton: Woodstock, DB, sr.

John Hussey: Marian Central, OL-DL, sr.

Blake Johnson: Woodstock, WR-DB, sr.

Rich Kersten: Cary-Grove, OL, jr.

Andrew Kick: Harvard, FB-LB, sr.

Brandon Kinsella: Richmond-Burton, LB, sr.

Brett Kleckner: Huntley, RB, sr.

Jared Koch: Marian Central, RB-LB, jr.

Ron Laramie: Hampshire, RB-DB, sr.

Josh Lopez: Crystal Lake Central, OL, sr.

Eric McLeland: Crystal Lake Central, TE, sr.

Nate Meyer: Woodstock North, WR-DB, jr.

Victor Nellessen: McHenry, LB, sr.

Mitch Noncek: Johnsburg, OL-DL, sr.

Chad O’Kane: Richmond-Burton, RB, sr.

Drew Ormseth: Crystal Lake South, QB, Jr.

Mike Pappas: Marian Central, LB, sr.

Justin Peete: Johnsburg, RB, sr.

Adam Pittser: Richmond-Burton, QB, jr.

Marcus Popenfoose: Huntley, FB-LB, sr.

James Quick: Woodstock North, LB, jr.

Thomas Rose: McHenry, QB, sr.

Danny Scott: Cary-Grove, DB, sr.

Kameron Scott: Crystal Lake South, RB, sr.

Mike Silvestri: Johnsburg, LB, sr.

Jon Schmitt: McHenry, WR, sr.

Danny Sharp: Dundee-Crown, RB, jr.

Cooper Smith: Hampshire, OL-DL, sr.

Matt Smith: Harvard, LB, sr.

Adam Smyth: Crystal Lake Central, FB, sr.

Mike Stein: Jacobs, DB, sr.

Shea Stricker: Harvard, DB, sr.

Corey Szamlewski: McHenry, WR, sr.

Max Vazquez: Alden-Hebron, QB-LB, sr.

Tony Vicicondi: Johnsburg, LB, sr.

Jon Williams: Prairie Ridge, QB, sr.

Archer Winberg: Crystal Lake South, OL, sr.

Trace Wingo: Crystal Lake South, OL, sr.

Caz Zyks: Jacobs, DB, sr.

- Joe Stevenson

jstevenson@nwherald.com