All-area football: Offense
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Jordan Roberts, Aurora Christian
Roberts set multiple IHSA career records this season and enters the state championship game with 2,655 yards passing and 41 TDs against only seven interceptions despite missing a game due to forfeit. He also topped 300 yards passing three times.
Michael Ratay, Geneva
The Player of the Year and all-Western Sun Conference selection enters the state title game with 2,764 yards rushing and 44 rush touchdowns. He has also thrown a touchdown and caught two while averaging 21.9 yards per kick return.
Tim Riley, Oswego
One of the best players in Panther history, the Northwestern-bound Riley rushed for 1,886 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes and three touchdowns. He set school records for carries (50) and yards (313) in a game.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Braxton Warner, Aurora Christian
Warner led an offensive line that paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher and a 2,500-yard passer. Heading into the state final, the Eagles have put up over 4,300 yards of total offense.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Luke Hallman, Sandwich
An all-Interstate Eight Conference Large Division selection, Hallman helped the Indians run to a playoff berth for the first time since 2002. Sandwich rushed for 2,669 yards as a team and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Bryce Biel, Geneva
This all-Western Sun Conference pick has been the leader for a unit that enters the state final averaging 287.8 rush yards per game and 3,742 yards on the season. The Vikings’ offense has also scored 66 touchdowns this year.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Mike Wulff, Oswego
Wulff was the linchpin on an offensive line that paved the way for 2,811 yards and 35 touchdowns.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Alex Berg, Batavia
An all-Western Sun Conference selection, Berg helped the Bulldogs offense set seven team records for total offense. The Bulldogs racked up 4,384 yard of total offense and averaged 6.8 yards per rush.
WIDE RECEIVER Mark Hilgers, Waubonsie Valley
Despite working through double-teams, Hilgers hauled in 58 catches for 788 yards (13.6) in the Warriors high-powered passing attack. He also caught eight touchdowns.
WIDE RECEIVER Erich Zeddies, Batavia
Zeddies put up team-high’s with 52 catches and 926 yards. His 12 TDs set a school record, as did his four-score performance against West Chicago. The all-Western Sun Conference selection also returned a kick for a score while putting up 1,221 all-purpose yards.
WIDE RECEIVER Matt Morse, Aurora Christian
After missing four games with illness and one game due to forfeit, Morse enters the state final with 1,067 yards receiving and 19 TDs. He averages 19 yards per catch as well.
KICKERMitch Ewald, Waubonsie Valley
This Indiana University bound kicker was 4-for-6 on field goals and 31-for-34 on extra points. He was an all-Upstate Eight Conference selection.
ALL-AROUNDMarkus Cocroft, West Aurora
Cocroft’s unique talents led to the creation of a unique category this year, never before done in a Beacon News All-Area team. The unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference first-teamer finished with 1,028 all-purpose yards. He averaged 31.1 yards per kick return with three TDs. He averaged 23.1 yards per punt return with 1 TD. He also caught five touchdowns and scored on one of his two interceptions.
