Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (9/18/2023)?
Here are the candidates for SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff.
Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced the following week. If you would like to nominate an athlete in the future, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
THIS WEEK’S SBLIVE ILLINOIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Owen Anderson, Prospect football
The senior had two interceptions in the final few minutes as Prospect rallied in the second half to defeat visiting Glenbrook South 45-35 and improve to 3-1.
Dominik Ball, Palatine football
The Tulane commit rushed for a school-record 290 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-20 victory against Evanston.
Christian Betancur, Marian Central Catholic football
The Clemson commit caught 10 passes for 202 yards and three TDs in a 49-34 win against Chicago Christian. He also had two sacks on defense.
Ryan Boe, Batavia football
The North Dakota State recruit completed 10 of 17 passes for 162 yards – including a 67-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage – in a 47-21 win over Lake Park. He also added two rushing touchdowns.
Brady Carlson, Grayslake Central football
The senior threw four touchdown passes – three to younger brother Bryce, a sophomore – to lead the Rams past rival Grayslake North 34-7.
Ben Cesario, Glenbard West football
The senior blocked a Lyons field-goal attempt in the final minute to seal a 13-10 West Suburban Silver win.
Martin Cohen, Antioch football
The junior had 166 total yards and three touchdowns in a 62-13 win over North Chicago. He ran five times for 134 yards and two scores, and added a 32-yard touchdown reception.
Omar Coleman, Plainfield North football
The junior accounted for all of the Tigers' scoring in a loss to Joliet West. He had four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, booted a 33-yard field goal and kicked a PAT.
Matt Crider, Wheaton-Warrenville South football
Making his season debut after being sidelined due to an ankle injury, the senior rushed 14 times for 119 yards and three first-half touchdowns in a 41-0 shutout of Glenbard North.
Jake Curry, Edwardsville football
In a 47-14 victory over O’Fallon. the Southern Illinois commit threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores.
Darrion Dupree, Mount Carmel football
The Wisconsin commit rushed for 55 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 102 yards and a score to in a 38-7 win over CCL/ESCC Blue rival St. Rita.
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel football
In a 38-7 rivalry win over St. Rita, the junior completed 18 of 20 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
Ryan Fitzgerald, Loyola Academy football
The junior completed 13 of 18 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another score in a 41-24 CCL/ESCC Blue win over Brother Rice.
Cooper Hanson, Conant football
The senior rushed 24 times for 290 yards and four touchdowns in a 61-33 victory over Deerfield.
Alex Harrison, Dixon boys golf
Harrison shot a 74 to earn medalist honors and led the Dukes to the title of Oregon's Wessels Invitational.
KJ Hayes, Morgan Park football
The senior outside linebacker/edge rusher recorded seven tackles, including 4.5 for losses, and 3.5 sacks in a 24-20 victory against Phillips.
Dierre Hill Jr., Althoff football
In a 34-19 loss to St. Dominic (Mo.), the junior ran for 162 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, caught four passes for 45 yards and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass.
Andrew Hoffman, Neuqua Valley football
The sophomore totaled six tackles and two interceptions in a 17-7 DuPage Valley Conference win over Naperville North.
Nick Iron, Montini Catholic football
The junior linebacker had 13 tackles – including six for losses – and three sacks in a 21-10 victory against Benet.
Dale Johnson, Sterling boys cross country
Johnson set a course record in winning the senior division at the Geneseo Invitational at 15:32.80.
Keshawn Lewis-Hunt, Morgan Park football
The senior, who has an offer from Louisville, scored the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter of a 24-20 win over Phillips. He carried 24 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns – all season highs.
Jorge Lopez, Ottawa boys soccer
Lopez scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over DePue-Hall in the title match of the Ottawa Invitational. He also had a goal in a 4-0 shutout of Sandwich and two goals in a 4-1 victory against Clifton Central.
Micah McNair, Joliet West football
The junior linebacker intercepted three passes, returning one for a TD, in a 17-10 victory against Plainfield North.
Cale McThenia, Marian Central Catholic football
The Northern Iowa commit was 34-of-43 passing for 461 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-34 victory against Chicago Christian. He also ran for 83 yards and two scores.
Dylon Nalley, Marion boys cross country
The senior ran a personal-best and meet-record 14:00.20 to win the Richard Spring Invitational on the state-meet course at Peoria's Detweiller Park.
Jason Penza, Crystal Lake Central football
The senior passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 66 yards and a score in a 25-10 victory against Burlington Central.
James Sheehan, Antioch football
The senior quarterback threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores in a victory over North Chicago.
Noah Sur, Fenwick football
The sophomore made a 25-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to give the Friars a 17-16 CCL/ESCC Orange victory over St. Francis.
Aniya Warren, Benet girls volleyball
The junior libero won tourney MVP honors as the Redwings won the Wheaton Classic, beating Marist 25-20, 25-18 in the final.
Veronica Znajda, Prospect girls cross country
The junior won the Richard Spring Invitational at Peoria's Detweiller Park, running 16:56.
Naperville North football player Cole Arl voted SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (Sept. 4-10)
Congratulations to Naperville North football player Cole Arl, who was voted the SBLive Illinois high school Athlete of the Week for August 28-Sept. 3. He received more than 69 percent of the votes.
In a 51-49 victory over Bolingbrook, the senior rushed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and added a 55-yard touchdown reception.
Breese Mater Dei football player Trenton Zeeb finished second in the voting after receiving more than 12 percent of the votes.
View the rest of the nominees here: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (August 28-Sept 3)?
PREVIOUS WINNERS: Joliet Catholic's Patrick Durbin (August 28-Sept. 3), Waubonsie Valley's Tyler Threat (August 21-27)
For live updates and complete statewide results, bookmark our Illinois high school football scoreboard: STATEWIDE ILLINOIS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
You can also watch dozens of Illinois high school football games live on the NFHS Network: WATCH LIVE ON NFHS NETWORK
To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App
Follow Illinois high school sports coverage on Facebook: @SBLiveIL
