Illinois high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 10 (10/28/2023)

Check out the top performances in Illinois high school football

We're taking a look at some of the top standouts and best performers from Illinois high school football games in Week 10 – the first week of the playoffs.

See: Illinois Week 1 standouts | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9  

See: SBLive Illinois football scoreboard for updates and results

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Logan Abrams, FB, Cary-Grove

Abrams carried a heavy workload from the fullback position during Cary-Grove’s dominant 49-6 playoff victory over Libertyville. The sophomore grinded out 90 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. 

Noah Battle, RB, Downers Grove North

Battle did it all in the Trojans' dominant 42-13 victory over Kenwood. The senior ran for two touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass, and he had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Ryan Boe, QB, Batavia

A senior committed to North Dakota State, Boe led Batavia to a dominant 46-0 win over Brother Rice. He threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and added 75 yards and another score on the ground.

Aiden Clark, RB, Naperville Central

Clark had a massive performance in Naperville Central’s 31-22 victory over Downers Grove South. The junior racked up 250 total yards and four touchdowns to power the Redhawks.

Illinois high school football Top 25 scoreboard (10/27/2023)

Constantine Coines, QB, Maine South

Coines made the difference in Maine South’s 35-0 victory over Lockport to advance in the 8A playoffs. The junior threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns and added 52 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. 

Jaiduan Cranford, RB, Metamora 

A sophomore, Cranford ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in the Redbirds' 36-14 win over Decatur MacArthur. 

Dominick DeBlasio, RB/WR, Kaneland

DeBlasio led an impressive Kaneland offensive effort in a 56-20 6A victory over Riverside-Brookfield. The senior rushed for three touchdowns and added a touchdown reception to help the Knights advance.

Mason Ellens, DB, Glenbard West

Ellens got the momentum going in Glenbard West’s favor right out of the gate during a 23-8 victory over Naperville North to advance in the 8A playoffs. The junior returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score and was a key contributor to the stout Hilltopper defensive effort. 

Jack Elliott, QB, Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel passed its first test of the postseason behind a strong effort under center from Elliott. The junior threw for 164 yards and a touchdown and added 88 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Carter London, RB, Glenbard South

A senior, London ran wild in Glenbard South’s 54-0 victory over UIC Prep in the first round of the 5A playoffs. The senior ran for 160 yards and three on nine carries, including a 51-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

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Donovan McNeal, RB, Warren Township

McNeal was a big contributor in Warren Township’s 39-3 victory over Oswego. The senior rushed for 106 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns to help the Blue Devils advance.

Logan Malachuk, QB, Nazareth Academy

Malachuk provided the Roadrunners with a spark to complete a 35-28 upset of second seed and previously-undefeated Prairie Ridge. The junior threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another two scores to lead the offense.

Alessio Milivojevic, QB, St. Francis

Milivojevic slung the ball all over the field in St. Francis’ 45-14 playoff victory over Rochelle on Friday. The senior Ball State commit completed 20 of his 24 passes for 296 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Spartans.

Arthur Palicki, QB, Willowbrook

A senior, Palicki played an excellent game to help Willowbrook to a 21-13 victory over Yorkville. He threw for an impressive 350 yards and three touchdowns and also added 91 yards on 23 carries to pace the offense.

Nick Rhoades, Metamora football

The senior QB ran for 201 yards and two touchdowns and completed five of six pass attempts for 34 yards in a 36-14 win over Decatur MacArthur. 

Terrance Sandidge, RB/LB, Crete-Monee

Sandidge was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball during Crete-Monee’s 47-13 victory over Champaign Centennial in Round 1 of the 6A playoffs. The senior captain racked up 209 yards, scored four touchdowns and tallied two sacks.

Antwan Strong, RB, Althoff Catholic

Strong had a historic performance in the Crusaders 76-41 shootout victory over Tuscola on Saturday. The senior rushed 19 times for 369 yards and seven touchdowns to help Althoff advance. 

Devan Van Ness, LB, Barrington

Van Ness was a force and helped lead a dominant 42-18 win over Glenbrook South on Friday. The senior recorded five sacks and helped Barrington hold Glenbrook South to just 19 first half yards.

Armon Vinson, QB, Belleville East

Vinson accounted for five touchdowns in a 70-0 win over visiting East Aurora on Friday. He passed for 114 yards and three touchdowns – to three different receivers – and ran for 30 yards and two scores as the Lancers improved to 8-2. 

Jack Wanzung, QB, St. Ignatius

Wanzung had a lights out game on the ground for the Wolfpack during their 39-6 victory over Joliet West. The junior rushed for 227 yards and four touchdowns to help St. Ignatius advance to the second round in the 8A state playoffs. 

Ian Willis, WR, St. Francis

Willis made several big plays in the Spartans' 45-14 first round victory over Rochelle in the 4A playoffs. The junior caught six passes for 51 yards and three touchdowns as the primary target for St. Francis. 

Trenton Zeeb, QB, Breese Mater Dei

Zeeb powered the Knights' 40-22 win over Carmi-White County. The senior completed nine of his 13 passes for 115 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 80 yards and a score on just six carries.

Illinois high school football brackets: 2023 IHSA state playoffs matchups, game times

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- Mike Carpinelli | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL