Sandwich senior running back Wyatt Gregory and Oswego East senior linebacker Jack Ponto have been named the Aurora-Elgin area offensive and defensive players of the week following the opening round of the high school football playoffs.
Gregory powered the Indians (6-4) to a 57-12 win over Lisle in the Class 4A opening round on Friday. He carried six times for 149 yards and scored on runs of 60, 45 and 25 yards. He also caught his only pass of the game for a 15-yard touchdown, giving him four scores on the night.
Ponto returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Oswego East's 49-8 victory over Curie in an 8A opening-round game on Saturday. The Wolves (5-5) advance to a first-round game at Huntley, set for 7 p.m. Friday.
In the area top 10, with records through Sunday, Geneva (8-1) holds the top spot for another week. Senior receiver Bennett Konkey, who is bound for Illinois, received an offer from Ohio State and also visited Champaign to watch the Illini's 21-10 win over Oregon. Oswego (8-1) stays second and faces Naperville Central in the first round. The Panthers beat the Redhawks 31-15 last season and practiced with them over the summer.
Batavia (7-2) is third and is led by senior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren, a Wyoming recruit. The Bulldogs likely face defending Class 7A state champion Brother Rice in the second round. Fourth-ranked Kaneland (8-1) has a difficult first-round draw in 5A state champion Wheaton St. Francis, which entered the opening round below .500 but beat Grayslake North 61-6.
Aurora Christian (8-1) is fifth. Senior offensive lineman TJ Anderson committed to Eastern Illinois during the Eagles' bye week, and the team now prepares to host Winnebago in a Class 3A first-round game Friday. Sixth-ranked Jacobs (8-1) draws Glenbard North, which beat Hoffman Estates 34-20 in the opening round. All eight DuKane Conference teams made the playoffs.
St. Charles North (6-4) is seventh after a 54-6 win over McHenry in the 7A opening round. Tommy Vendl ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns and added 107 receiving yards and a score. South Elgin (7-2) is eighth and looks to win its first playoff game in three years after first-round losses in each of the last two seasons. The Storm face Lane Tech, a team they beat 55-6 at home in the first round in 2023.
West Aurora (7-3) ranks ninth after a 40-21 win over Leyden. Carlos Rivera, who leads the Blackhawks with 73 tackles, sealed the victory late with a 5-yard interception return for a touchdown. Burlington Central (7-3) rounds out the top 10 after beating Rockford East 41-10. The Rockets now face Lake Zurich and its coach, Dragan Teonic, who previously coached at Larkin and South Elgin.
