Co-Player of the Year
Co-Player of the Year
Co-Player of the Year – RB: Naperville Central senior Kevin Clifford (293 carries for 1,571 yards and 11 TDs)
Clifford, the 2014 DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was a constant threat in the backfield for the defending Class 8A state champions. His 244 yards and two TDs helped propel the Redhawks to an 8A second-round victory over Waubonsie Valley.
Co-Player of the Year – RB: Metea Valley senior Bryson Oliver (272 carries for 1,701 yards and 18 TDs)
Named 2014 Co-Upstate Eight Valley Offensive Player of the Year alongside Waubonsie Valley’s Zack Bennema, Oliver set Metea Valley single-season records for rushing yards and touchdowns. Oliver, tabbed to the Illinois Football Coaches Association Class 8A All-State team, eclipsed the 100-yard mark in every game but one for the Mustangs in helping the program reach the postseason for the first time ever.
Offense
QB: Waubonsie Valley senior Zack Bennema (53.7 completion percentage for 988 passing yards and 10 TDs; 108 carries for 807 yards and 17 TDs)
Named 2014 Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Upstate Eight Valley with Oliver, Bennema made the most of his only year starting for Waubonsie Valley, which won piece of first conference title since 2010 while winning at least nine games for the second time under Paul Murphy’s tutelage.
WR: Metea Valley senior Nick Dodson (44 receptions for 806 yards and 10 TDs)
An all-Upstate Eight Valley selection, Dodson led the Mustangs in receptions, yards and touchdowns while proving to be quite the go-to-guy for quarterback Kyle Mooney.
WR: Naperville Central senior Michael Kolzow (48 receptions for 626 yards and three TDs)
The Illinois State-bound Kolzow, an all-DVC pick and selected to the Illinois Football Coaches Association Class 8A All-State team along with Oliver, led Naperville Central offense in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns while proving to be nice security blanket for junior quarterback Conor Joyce.
WR: Neuqua Valley sophomore Isaiah Robertson (30 receptions for 721 yards and five TDs)
Robertson, an all-Upstate Eight Valley selection, proved to be worthy of the fact coaches brought up onto varsity as a sophomore in leading the Wildcats in receiving yards while giving Indiana State-bound quarterback Broc Rutter another speedy target to throw to.
OL: Metea Valley senior Brett Boddy
An all-Upstate Eight Valley selection, the Holy Cross-bound Boddy helped lead a Mustangs’ offensive line that created holes for the small but diminutive Oliver to run through all year long.
OL: Benet senior Connor O’Donnell
O’Donnell, a pick to the East Suburban Catholic Conference team, was one of the guys who helped pave the way for Brad Sznajder to set Benet’s single-season and career rushing marks. Sznajder finished the
year with 1,583 yards and 14 touchdowns and 2,397 yards for his career.
OL: Nsperville Central senior Alex Coates
One of two Redhawk offensive linemen selected to All-DVC team, along with junior Ryan Culhane, Coates, the 2014 DVC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and his line-mates helped Clifford average 130.9 yards a game.
OL: Waubonsie Valley junior Tyler Caldwell
Caldwell, the only Warrior on the offensive line tabbed to the All-Upstate Eight Valley team, helped pave the way for Tony Durns to run for 1,146 yards and 13 TDs.
OL: Neuqua Valley senior Hank Michalski
An All-Upstate Eight Valley pick, Michalski was a stalwart center on the offensive line for the Wildcats.
Possibly headed to Ivy League to play at Penn, Michalski helped the Wildcats average 129.6 rushing yards per game.
Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year – LB: Naperville Central senior Bobby McMillen (140 tackles, nine TFLs and two interceptions)
Selected to All-DVC team as the Defensive Player of the Year, the Iowa State-bound McMillen was the driving force of a Redhawk defense that proved unrelenting all year long. Paced Mike Ulreich’s charges with his 140 tackles.
Defense
DL: Naperville Central senior Joe Schweikart (66 tackles, 24 TFLs and 10 sacks)
Named to All-DVC team as one of two Outstanding Defensive Linemen in the DVC for 2014, Schweikart recorded 62 tackles, but he led Redhawks with 22 TFLs and with his nine sacks.
DL: Metea Valley senior Erin Morgan (47 tackles, 17 TFLs and 11 sacks)
Morgan, selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, led Mustangs’ defense in TFLs and sacks while finishing fifth on the team in tackles.
DL: Naperville North junior Tom Rizzi (27 tackles, three TFLs and 1 1⁄2 sacks)
Rizzi was tabbed to All-DVC team after tying for team lead in sacks and finishing tied for second on Anthony Silvestri’s unit with his three TFLs.
LB: Benet junior Charlie Weidenbach (97 tackles, eight TFLs, 1 1⁄2 sacks and one interception)
Selected to All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team, Weidenbach paced Tim Cederblad’s defensive unit with his team-high 97 tackles.
LB: Neuqua Valley senior D.J. Warkenthien (102 tackles, 10 TFLs and five sacks)
Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Warkenthien was named the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year in the Upstate Eight Valley after leading the Wildcats in tackles and sacks.
LB: Waubonsie Valley junior Max Ihry (110 tackles, five TFLs, 5 1⁄2 sacks and four interceptions)
Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Ihry led the Warriors in interceptions from his linebacker spot and finished second on the team in sacks.
CB: Naperville Central junior Garrett Purdy (40 tackles and five interceptions)
Selected to All-DVC team, Purdy led Redhawks with his five interceptions as nine different Redhawks recorded interceptions this season.
CB: Benet senior Mac Cooney (60 tackles and four interceptions)
Selected to All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team, Cooney led Redwings’ secondary with his 60 tackles and four interceptions.
S: Waubonsie Valley senior Jake McCabe (110 tackles, five TFLs, two PBUs, 2 1⁄2 sacks and one interception)
Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, McCabe led back end of Warriors’ defense with his 110 tackles.
S: Neuqua Valley senior Elijah Tappin (61 tackles, five PBUs, one sack and three interceptions)
Tappin was selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team after tying for the team lead in tackles from someone in the secondary while tying for the team lead in interceptions.
K/P: Metea Valley senior Mike Sfikas (54 points; 39-41 on PATs and 5-8 on FGs)
Sfikas was one of two District 204 kickers selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, along with Waubonsie Valley’s Jordan Mellecker.
