Naperville Sun All-Area Football Team
December 8, 2012 5:30PM
Benet Academy quarterback Jack Beneventi fires a pass from behind the blocking of Sean O'Mara (75) on Grant Kasal (87) of Downers Grove North. | Jon Cunningham~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: January 10, 2013 6:15AM
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Benet sophomore Jack Beneventi (59.7 completion percentage for 2,318 passing yards and 20 TDs) — Selected to All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team, Beneventi was a big reason for Benet’s turnaround from 1-8 in 2011 to its 11-2 finish in 2012, which saw Benet win share of its first-ever ESCC crown and reach its first state semifinal since 1984.
RUNNING BACKS
Neuqua Valley senior Joey Rhattigan (294 carries for 2,226 yards and 33 TDs) — Rhattigan, co-Upstate Eight Valley Offensive Player of the Year, leaves Neuqua Valley holding nearly every significant program rushing record. He had more than 100 yards in 11 of 13 games for 12-1 Neuqua Valley, which advanced past the second round and reached state semifinals for the first time in program history.
Waubonsie Valley senior Austin Guido (319 carries for 2,365 yards and 31 TDs) — Named co-Upstate Eight Valley Offensive Player of the Year alongside Rhattigan, Guido ends his high school career with every significant rushing record in his possession in helping Waubonsie Valley win 10 games and reach the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1994.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Neuqua Valley junior Mikey Dudek (46 receptions for 991 yards and 14 TDs) — An all-Upstate Eight Valley selection, Dudek led the Wildcats in receptions, yards and touchdowns while setting single-season records in all three categories. Dudek also added four touchdowns on special teams.
Benet senior Jack Euritt (55 receptions for 850 yards and 10 TDs) — Euritt, an all-ESCC selection, set program single-season record with his 55 receptions while proving to be a great security blanket for the young Beneventi.
TIGHT END
Waubonsie Valley senior Troy Fumagalli (26 receptions for 441 yards and five TDs) — The Wisconsin-bound Fumagalli, an all-Upstate Eight Valley pick, led potent Warriors offense in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Naperville North senior Colin Goebel — A two-time All-State and two-time All-DuPage Valley Conference team selection, the Iowa-bound Goebel helped lead a Huskies’ offensive line that proved dominant throughout the year.
Naperville North senior Mike Langman — The 2012 DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, Langman was also selected to All-DuPage Valley Conference team while helping Huskies’ junior RB DeSean Brown run for 623 yards and 11 TDs on ground.
Waubonsie Valley senior Jackson Hynes — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Hynes and his line-mates helped Guido average 197.1 yards a game.
Waubonsie Valley junior Jon Harris — Harris, one of two Warriors on the offensive line tabbed to the All-Upstate Eight Valley team, helped pave the way for the Warriors’ offense to average 322.8 rushing yards.
Neuqua Valley senior Kyle Bryant — Part of an offensive line that allowed Rhattigan to average 171.2 yards a game on the ground, Bryant was one of two Neuqua Valley offensive linemen named to the All-Upstate Eight Valley team.
Neuqua Valley junior J.P. Quinn — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley Division team, the Central Michigan-bound Quinn helped the Wildcats offense average 239.8 rushing yards a game.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Waubonsie Valley senior Trevor Hardin (62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks) — Named to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Hardin recorded just 62 tackles, but he led Ron Griffin’s unit in tackles for loss, along with junior linebacker Hugh Griffin, and finished tied with Fumagalli for the team lead in sacks.
Neuqua Valley senior Tyler Speich (92 tackles, 17 TFL, eight sacks) — Speich, selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, finished fourth in tackles, but he led Wildcats’ defense in TFLs and sacks.
Benet senior Charles Melka (61 tackles, 16 TFL, six sacks) — Melka was selected to All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team after finishing seventh on team in tackles while leading Tim Cederblad’s defensive charges with his 16 TFLs. His six sacks ranked second on the team.
LINEBACKERS
Waubonsie Valley junior Hugh Griffin (123 tackles, 11 TFL, two sacks) — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Griffin paced Warriors’ defense in tackles and tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 11.
Waubonsie Valley senior Austin Lacke (106 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks and two interceptions) — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Lacke was also named the UEC Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year. Lacke finished second on Warriors’ defense in tackles to fellow linebacker Griffin.
Benet senior Jack Crain (136 tackles, 11 TFLs, one pass broken up, 2½ sacks and one interception) — Selected to All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team, Crain was named the conference’s Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Neuqua Valley senior Sam Norgaard (101 tackles, 11 TFL, two sacks and four interceptions) — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Norgaard finished third on Wildcats’ defense in tackles while leading Rodney Jones’ unit with his four interceptions.
CORNERBACKS
Waubonsie Valley senior Jeff Markham (46 tackles, two TFL, nine PBU, one sack and four interceptions) — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Markham led the Warriors’ defense with his four interceptions.
Benet senior Jack Toner (41 tackles, two TFL, 11 PBU and two interceptions) — Selected to All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team for a second straight year, Toner’s worth to the Redwings’ defense was immeasurable as opponents threw away from him after a strong junior season in 2011.
SAFETIES
Neuqua Valley senior Dennis Thurow (135 tackles, 10 TFL, six PBU, two sacks and one interception) — Selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, Thurow led Wildcats’ defense in tackles while finishing in A three-way tie for second on team with his 10 tackles for loss.
Naperville Central senior Kevin Nowak (82 tackles, one PBU and three interceptions) — Nowak was selected to All-DuPage Valley Conference first team after finishing second to senior linebacker Luke Roth with his 82 tackles and finishing in a three-way lead on the team with his three interceptions.
KICKER
Neuqua Valley senior Ryan Mulhern (69 points; 60-70 on PATs and 3-7 on FGs) — Mulhern, one of 12 Wildcats selected to All-Upstate Eight Valley team, provided the winning margin in Neuqua’s 23-20 Class 8A quarterfinal victory over Waubonsie Valley with a 19-yard field goal.
— Compiled by Blake Baumgartner
