Illinois high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 3

Bolingbrook sophomore Jonas Williams throws for 355 yards, six scores

We're taking a look at some of the top standouts and performers from Illinois high school football games in Week 3.

See: Illinois Week 1 standouts | Week 2 standouts  

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Cole Arl, RB, Naperville North

Arl provided the Huskies with some firepower during their 51-49 shootout victory over Bolingbrook. The senior rushed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and added a 55-yard touchdown reception.

Noah Battle, RB, Downers Grove North

Battle had another dominant rushing performance in Downers Grove North’s matchup with Glenbard West on Saturday. Battle racked up 198 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries to lead the Trojans to a 31-7 victory – and snap a 16-game losing streak to Glenbard West. 

Ryan Boe, QB, Batavia

A senior, Boe led an impressive Bulldog offensive effort against Lake Park on Friday. Boe threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns in just one half of action as Batavia rolled to a 47-21 DuKane Conference victory.

Troyer Carlson, QB, Kaneland

Carlson had an outstanding performance against Morris on Friday. The senior threw for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran wild for 175 yards, another 2 scores, and a 2 point conversion. Kaneland’s comeback bid came up short as they lost 43-33.

David Finfer, QB, Highland Park 

Finfer, a second, passed for 361 passing yards and two touchdowns and ran for 140 yards and two scores in his team's 42-35 victory against visiting Rolling Meadows on Friday. 

Jack Ginnan, QB, South Elgin

Ginnan squeezed a career performance in a 50-point first quarter on Friday. The junior threw for three touchdowns, rushed for another two, and converted a 2-point conversion in a 79-7 Upstate Eight Conference victory over Fenton.

Colton Gumino, QB, Hersey

Gumino had another huge performance in the Huskies' 42-0 win over Glenbrook North. The junior completed 14 of 19 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score. 

Dierre Hill Jr., RB/DB, Althoff

Hill did it all for Althoff during its 61-33 victory over Centralia. The junior had 11 carries for 264 yards and four touchdowns, caught a 48-yard touchdown pass, and returned an interception 28 yards for his sixth touchdown.

Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (9/4/2023)?

Kevin Holland, WR, Lockport

A senior for the Porters, Holland supplied Lockport’s offense with several big plays during a 31-24 overtime victory over Naperville Central. Holland caught 6 passes for 140 yards and 2 scores including his game-winning overtime touchdown grab.

Joey Kowall, RB, Burlington Central

Kowall shined in the Rockets' Fox Valley Conference matchup with Crystal Lake South. The senior rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries and he scored four touchdowns to lead Burlington Central to a 35-21 victory.

Luke Mailander, WR, York

An Illinois State recruit, Mailander was a downfield threat in York’s 47-7 victory over Downers Grove South. The senior caught five passes for 120 yards, including touchdowns of 33 and 75 yards.

Anthony Palano, RB/LB, Buffalo Grove

Palano had a record-setting performance in the 62-14 Bison victory over Vernon Hills. The senior racked up 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns, 99 receiving yards and two scores, and returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown. His six total touchdowns set a school single-game record.

Jacob Schwartz, RB, Morris

Schwartz was a workhorse out of the backfield in Morris’ matchup with Kaneland on Friday. The senior running back racked up 203 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Knights' 43-33 victory.

Travis Stamm, WR, Lyons Township

Stamm was the go-to target for quarterback Ryan Jackson during the Lions' 42-17 victory over rival Hinsdale Central. The junior caught nine passes for 98 yards and all three of Jackson’s touchdown passes to pace the offense.

Nate Stempkowski, QB, Geneva

Stempkowski starred for the Vikings offense during their 28-6 DuKane Conference victory over Wheaton-Warrenville South on Friday. The senior threw for 98 yards and 2 scores and added 128 yards on 8 carries and another score to do the heavy lifting for Geneva.

See: Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (9/7/2023)

Aaron Stewart, RB, Warren Township

Stewart was the gamebreaker in Warren’s 28-8 victory over Libertyville. The sophomore led the way with 238 yards and 2 scores on the ground to lead the offense and earn Warren their first win of the season.

Azuriah Sylvester, RB/DB, West Aurora

A junior, Sylvester found the end zone on both sides of the ball during West Aurora’s dominant 56-14 victory over Romeoville. Sylvester ran back an interception 29 yards for a touchdown and also had an 83-yard rushing score.

Cam Williams, WR/DB, Glenbard South

Williams turned in another great effort on Friday. The Notre Dame commit hauled in seven catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a touchdown and intercepted a pass on defense to lead the Raiders to a 35-0 win over Larkin.

Jonas Williams, QB, Bolingbrook

A sophomore standout, Williams lived up to the hype during a matchup with Naperville North on Friday. Williams completed 32 of his 40 passes for 355 yards and six touchdowns but Bolingbrook lost on a final second field goal. 

Trenton Zeeb, QB, Breese Mater Dei

Zeeb accounted for career highs of 273 total yards and five touchdowns in the Knights' 36-14 win at Effingham. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns (against one interception) and ran for 21 yards and a score. 

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NOTE: To nominate a player for the top performances list, please email SBLive Regional Editor Nate Latsch at latsch@scorebooklive.com or via Twitter/X at @natelatsch.

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