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HomeSportsThe 2023 Daily Southtown Football All-Area Team

The 2023 Daily Southtown Football All-Area Team

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Fresh off appearances in the state finals, champion Mount Carmel and runners-up Lincoln-Way, St. Laurence and Joliet Catholic lead the way. Providence, Lockport, Morgan Park, Lincoln-Way West and Eisenhower also in the mix.

AJ Abrams, Eisenhower, senior, wide receiver: Picked up football late in his career. Had 45 receptions for 1,333 yards and 18 touchdowns. All-state.

Christos Alexandros, Lockport, senior, offensive lineman: Played tackle and guard. Had 40 pancake blocks. All-state.

Aaron Ball, St. Laurence, senior, running back: Ran for 1,700 yards and 22 TDs as Vikings took second in Class 4A. Lawless Award winner. Committed to Illinois as preferred walk-on.

Joey Campagna, Lincoln-Way West, senior, running back: Ran for 1,800 yards and 22 TDs despite playing with dislocated shoulder and broken hand. All-state.

Darrion Dupree, Mount Carmel, senior, running back/receiver: Had 1,092 yards rushing, 755 yards receiving, 24 TDs. Lawless Award winner. All-state. Committed to Wisconsin.

Chris Durr, Morgan Park, senior, wide receiver: Caught 68 passes for 1,130 yards, 13 TDs. All-state. Committed to Wyoming.

Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel, junior, quarterback: Threw for 3,148 yards and 34 TDs for Class 8A champion. Also ran for 847 yards, seven TDs.

Josh Janowski, Lincoln-Way East, senior, offensive lineman: Center had 51 pancake blocks for Class 8A runner-up. All-state. Committed to Iowa.

Jacob Katauskas, Lemont, senior, offensive lineman: Averaged five knockdowns a game. All-state. Committed to Coastal Carolina.

Michael McDonough, Andrew, junior, offensive lineman: Had 20 pancake blocks. Did not allow a sack. Honorable mention all-state. Getting offers from major Division I schools.

Marcus Thaxton, Morgan Park, junior, quarterback: Threw for 2,044 yards and 26 TDs, leading Mustangs to state quarterfinals.

St. Laurence's Aaron Ball (6) runs for extra yards against Rochester in the third-quarter of the Class 4A state championship game at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium in Normal on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Austin Alexander, Marian Catholic, senior, defensive back: Had 64 tackles and pair of interceptions. Conference’s defensive player of year. All-state. Committed to Kansas.

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Conner Durkin, Lincoln-Way East, senior, linebacker: Had 140 tackles. Set program record with 316 career tackles. Conference’s defensive player of year.

Lebarion Gilmore, Stagg, senior, defensive back: Had 82 tackles and two interceptions. Also threw for 1,344 yards as quarterback. All-state.

Gavin Hagan, Providence, junior, defensive back: Had 47 tackles, two interceptions, six passes broken up. Conference’s defensive player of year.

Carlos Hazlewood, Tinley Park, senior, defensive lineman: Had 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles. Conference’s lineman of year. Honorable mention all-state. Decommitted from Northern Illinois.

Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic, senior, defensive lineman: Had 82 tackles, 10 sacks, seven tackles for loss. Conference’s defensive player of year. All-state. Committed to Wisconsin.

Andre Lovett, Eisenhower, junior, linebacker: Had 78 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine quarterback pressures. Honorable mention all-state.

Max Munoz, St. Laurence, senior, defensive lineman: Was stopper on defense and opened holes on offense. Conference’s lineman of year.

Parker Startz, Mount Carmel, senior, linebacker: Had 91 tackles and 11 1/2 sacks. Conference’s co-defensive player of year. Committed to Ohio.

Austin Synoga, Richards, junior, defensive back: Led Bulldogs with 92 tackles and five tackles for loss. Honorable mention all-state.

Josh Veldman, Lincoln-Way West, junior linebacker: Had 110 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles. Conference defensive player of year.

Joliet Catholic's Dillan Johnson (76) tries to get through Troy Triad's Zach Van Tieghem (63) during a Class 5A second-round playoff game at Joliet Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

Nate Blazewski, Lockport, senior kicker/punter: Talk about perfection. Went 11 of 11 on field goals and 29 of 29 on extra points.

Jack Florentine, Lincoln-Way East, senior, long snapper: Was 100% in snap accuracy not only this season but in three-year career. On Michigan State’s radar.

Drew Schiller, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, kicker: Hit 13 of 14 on field goals, with long of 49 yards, and was 39 of 39 on extra points. All-state. Committed to Eastern Illinois.

Eisenhower’s Nick Mayfield runs for a touchdown against Richards during a South Suburban Red game in Oak Lawn on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Eduardo Antunez, Evergreen Park, senior, offensive lineman: Anchored ground game that averaged five yards a carry. Added 56 tackles on defense. Conference’s lineman of year. Honorable mention all-state.

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HJ Grigsby, Joliet Catholic, senior, running back: Had 1,768 yards and 14 TDs, including 278-yard performance in Class 5A state championship game.

Conor Kenzinger, Brother Rice, senior, offensive lineman: Helped ground attack average more than 200 yards a game. Committed to Western Michigan.

Tyler Lofton, Marian Catholic, junior, running back: Ran for 1,163 yards, 17 TDs. Conference’s offensive player of year. Honorable mention all-state.

Nick Mayfield, Eisenhower, senior, quarterback: Threw for 1,906 yards, 26 TDs. Ran for 835 yards, 12 TDs. Committed to Minnesota State.

Myles Mitchell, Richards, junior, running back: Ran for 1,278 yards, 17 TDs. Added 115 yards receiving, 389 yards on kick returns. Conference’s player of year. All-state.

Owen Perez, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, offensive lineman: Despite suffering a torn labrum and missing season opener, averaged five pancakes a game. Did not allow a sack.

Charlie Snoreck, Sandburg, junior, wide receiver: Put up video game numbers with 77 catches for 1,153 yards, 11 TDs.

Braden Tischer, Lincoln-Way East, senior, quarterback: Threw for 1,837 yards and 19 TDs, helping Griffins to second straight Class 8A runner-up finish.

Vincent Vargas, Crete-Monee, senior, offensive lineman: Tough center. Receiving NCAA Division II and Division III looks.

Adrian Washington, Joliet Catholic, senior, wide receiver: Caught 38 passes for 725 yards, 10 TDs. Conference’s offensive player of year.

Lincoln-Way East's Braden Tischer (15) gets free against Batavia during the third quarter of a nonconference game in Frankfort on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Justin Buckner, St. Rita, junior, linebacker: Had 73 tackles and three interceptions, including one returned for TD.

Cael DePolo, Lincoln-Way West, senior, defensive lineman: Had 63 tackles, 22 for loss, 11 sacks, 25 hurries.

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Dominic Gradford, T.F. North, senior, defensive back: Had 60 tackles, two interceptions. Also passed for 947 yards and was steady punter. Conference’s player of year.

Myles Green, De La Salle, junior, defensive back: Had 36 tackles, two interceptions. Added 42 catches for 800 yards. Honorable mention all-state.

Daniel Rouse, Joliet Catholic, junior, linebacker: Had team-high 95 tackles, nine for loss as Hilltoppers finished second in Class 5A.

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Brock Sperling, Chicago Christian, junior, defensive lineman: Had 57 tackles, 12 for loss, five sacks. Averaged 3.3 pancakes a game on offense.

Jordyn Stewart, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, linebacker: Had 84 tackles, 48 solos, 12 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks.

Corey Taubr, St. Laurence, senior, defensive back: Captain and three-time all-conference pick. Also strong on special teams as Vikings took second in Class 4A.

Duke White, Marist, senior, linebacker: Defensive spark plug had team-high 68 tackles, including 10 for loss.

Erimus Wright, Hillcrest, junior, defensive back: Had 57 tackles, four interceptions. Also ran for 1,172 yards, 14 TDs. Honorable mention all-state.

David Wuske, Lincoln-Way East, senior, defensive lineman: Helped stifle opposing ground games. Had 164 tackles, 21 sacks in career. Getting Division I and NCAA Division II offers.

Hillcrest's Erimus Wright (19) gets through the line against Tinley Park during a South Suburban Red game in Tinley Park on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.



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