Meet the 2024 Daily Southtown Football All-Area Team

State champions Mount Carmel and Chicago Christian and state runner-up Joliet Catholic lead the selections.

First Team Offense

Quentin Burrell, Mount Carmel, sophomore, receiver: Hauled in 75 catches for 1,257 yards and 17 TDs for Class 7A champs.

Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel, senior, quarterback: Threw for 3,147 yards and 36 TDs. Ran for 770 yards and 17 TDs. All-state. League’s offensive player of the year. Committed to Vanderbilt.

Kenny Jager, Chicago Christian, senior, running back: Ran for 2,025 yards and 28 TDs for Class 2A champs. Had 30 total TDs. All-state honorable mention. Conference’s offensive player of the year.

Michael McDonough, Andrew, senior, lineman: Four-year starter paved way for high-powered option attack. All-state honorable mention. Committed to Illinois.

Myles Mitchell, Richards, senior, running back: Piled up 1,709 yards and 34 TDs. Had 38 total TDs. All-state. Conference’s player of the year. Committed to North Dakota State.

Malik Salah, Joliet Catholic, senior, lineman: Anchored dominant line that helped two running backs go over 1,000 yards for Class 5A runners-up.

Charlie Snoreck, Sandburg, senior, receiver: Made 67 catches for 1,027 yards and 10 TDs. All-state honorable mention.

Jake Sulzberger, Lemont, senior, lineman: Had 103 knockdowns and only allowed two sacks. All-state. Committed to Air Force.

Tyler Tulk, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, running back: Ran for 1,500 yards and 22 TDs. Conference’s offensive player of the year.

Jonas Williams, Lincoln-Way East, junior, quarterback: Passed for 2,926 yards and 42 TDs. Ran for 395 yards and seven TDs. All-state. Conference’s offensive player of the year. Committed to Oregon.

Trey Zvonar, Lincoln-Way East, senior, tight end: Key blocker for offense that averaged 43 points. Had 25 catches for 274 yards and three TDs. All-state honorable mention. Committed to Miami Ohio.

Mount Carmel's Quentin Burrell (4) manages to hold onto the ball on a touchdown reception against Batavia in the Class 7A state championship game at Hancock Stadium in Normal on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown) — Mount Carmel’s Quentin Burrell (4) makes a TD catch against Batavia in the Class 7A state championship game at Hancock Stadium in Normal on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

First Team Defense

Justin Buckner, St. Rita, senior, linebacker: Piled up 108 tackles, 16 for loss, and five sacks. Added five TDs as running back. All-state. Lawless Award winner as league MVP.

Jovan Clark, Morgan Park, senior, defensive back/linebacker: Finished with 102 tackles, 15 for loss, and six sacks, plus two interceptions. Committed to Washington State.

Brad Fitzgibbon, Marist, senior, lineman: Had 46 tackles, nine for loss, and 6.5 sacks. All-state honorable mention. League’s lineman of the year. Committed to Iowa.

Christian Flutman, Chicago Christian, senior, defensive back: Tallied eight interceptions to go with 35 tackles, including 6.5 for loss. Also threw for 1,875 yards and 25 TDs and ran for 11 TDs.

Andre Lovett, Eisenhower, senior, defensive back: Had 62 tackles. Also piled up 965 yards and 15 TDs at running back. Committed to Illinois.

Matthew Mucha, Mount Carmel, senior, linebacker: Piled up 109 tackles, 15 for loss, and six sacks. All-state honorable mention. League’s co-defensive player of the year.

Caden O’Rourke, Lincoln-Way East, senior, lineman: Had 54 tackles, 10 for loss, and 13 sacks. All-state. Conference’s defensive player of the year. Committed to Northwestern.

Daniel Rouse, Joliet Catholic, senior, linebacker: Finished with 87 tackles, six for loss, and three sacks. All-state. League’s co-defensive player of the year.

Brock Sperling, Chicago Christian, senior, lineman: Had 77 tackles, 37.5 for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Dominant force on offensive line that paved way for 2,000-yard rusher. All-state.

Conner Stack, Brother Rice, senior, defensive back: Finished with 57 tackles, four for loss, and three interceptions. League’s co-defensive player of the year.

Josh Veldman, Lincoln-Way West, senior, linebacker: Piled up 110 tackles, including 22 for loss. All-state. Conference’s defensive player of the year. Committed to Northwestern.

Brother Rice's CJ Gray (4) is sacked by Mount Carmel's Matthew Mucha (41) during a CCL/ESCC Blue conference game in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown) — Mount Carmel’s Matthew Mucha (41) sacks Brother Rice’s CJ Gray (4) during a CCL/ESCC Blue game in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

First Team Specialists

Keoni George, Tinley Park, senior, athlete: Ran for 1,509 yards and 17 TDs as running back, quarterback, receiver. All-state honorable mention.

Gavin Hagan, Providence, senior, return specialist/athlete: Had 584 yards and two TDs on kick/punt returns. Ran for 397 yards and seven TDs and made 28 tackles. All-state. League’s offensive player of the year. Committed to Indiana State.

Kacper Lobas, Argo, senior, kicker/punter: Went 6-for-10 on field goals, with long of 48 yards, and 23-for-24 on extra points. Averaged 40.5 yards on punts.

A group of Morgan Park defenders tackle Tinley Park's Keoni George (3) during the Class 5A first-round game at Gately Stadium in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown) — Tinley Park’s Keoni George (3) runs into Morgan Park’s defense during a Class 5A first-round game at Gately Stadium in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Second Team Offense

Derrin Couch, Crete-Monee, junior, quarterback: Threw for 2,082 yards and 41 TDs with just four interceptions. Ran for 235 yards and four TDs. All-state.

Nick Herman, St. Rita, senior, running back: Ran for 1,143 yards and 14 TDs. Added two TD catches.

Keshon Johnson, Oak Forest, senior, lineman: Anchored line that paved the way for an explosive triple-option attack as Bengals won a playoff game for the first time since 2016.

John McAuliffe, Marist, senior, running back: Ran for 1,153 yards and 16 TDs. Added five receiving TDs. Co-Gillespie Award winner for league MVP. Committed to Cornell.

Nasir Rankin, Morgan Park, junior, receiver: Had 48 catches for 1,126 yards and 17 TDs. All-state honorable mention.

Kyle Richardson, St. Laurence, senior, tight end: Key blocker for strong rushing attack. Added 12 catches for 118 yards and three TDs.

Carlos Roa, T.F. North, senior, lineman: Two-way standout played multiple positions on line, leading Meteors to first playoff win since 2002.

Austin Rowswell, Lincoln-Way West, senior, receiver: Had 46 catches for 800 yards and 12 TDs. All-state honorable mention.

Larry Stringham, Joliet Catholic, senior, running back: Ran for 1,435 yards and 14 TDs. All-state. Co-Gillespie Award winner for league MVP.

Marcus Thaxton, Morgan Park, senior, quarterback: Three-year starter threw for 2,371 yards and 28 TDs. Ran for four TDs. All-state.

Ethan Toosley, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, lineman: Anchored line for offense that ran for over 3,000 yards on way to Class 7A semifinals.

Joliet Catholic's Larry Stringham (24) races down the sidelines on a touchdoan against Morris in Class 5A state semifinals at Memorial Stadium in Joliet on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown) — Joliet Catholic’s Larry Stringham (24) races down the sideline for a TD against Morris in a Class 5A state semifinal game at Memorial Stadium in Joliet on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Second Team Defense

Ben Bernier, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, linebacker: Piled up 125 tackles, 10 for loss, and six sacks. Conference defensive player of the year.

Jacob Bylina, St. Laurence, senior, linebacker: Finished with 108 tackles, seven for loss, and three forced fumbles. All-state.

Ronnie Gordon, Marian Catholic, senior, linebacker: Piled up 127 tackles. Also had 14 catches for 148 yards and TD. All-state honorable mention. League’s co-defensive player of the year.

Maddux North, Richards, senior, lineman: Finished with 69 tackles, 13 for loss, and eight sacks. Added three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

Havy Payne, Mount Carmel, senior, defensive back: Made five interceptions and contributed 43 tackles. Committed to Eastern Illinois.

AJ Powell, Evergreen Park, senior, defensive back: Picked off five passes and added 48 tackles. Had six TDs on offense and special teams. All-state honorable mention.

Payton Roberson, Lockport, senior, linebacker: Finished with 96 tackles, including six for loss. All-state honorable mention.

Chris Stavrakis, Shepard, senior, lineman: Had 55 tackles, 22 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. All-state honorable mention. Conference’s lineman of the year.

Charlie Stec, Brother Rice, senior, lineman: Finished with 34 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and five sacks, plus an interception. League’s lineman of the year. Committed to Western Illinois.

Austin Synoga, Richards, senior, defensive back: Had 66 tackles and three interceptions. All-state honorable mention.

Erimus Wright, Hillcrest, senior, defensive back: Finished with 40 tackles, including three for loss. Also ran for 1,002 yards and 18 TDs. All-state. Committed to South Dakota State.