The Peoria area's top performances from Week 3 of the high school football season
Each week, the Journal Star will take a look at the top-performing teams and players from weekend games across the Peoria area.
Players from Morton, East Peoria, Elmwood/Brimfield and Washington lead our list for Week 3 so far.
Carl Whitaker, Morton
The running back opened scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and the Potters (2-1) pulled away for a 35-7 Mid-Illini Conference victory over Canton on Friday night. Whitaker finished with a game-high 215 rushing yards on 31 carries. Potters quarterback Jude Hart added two touchdowns, one rushing and passing to Micah Wong.
Gabriel Zeigler-Harris, East Peoria
The Raiders running back now has 10 touchdowns in the last two weeks after scoring five Friday to lead East Peoria (2-1) to a 33-20 home victory over Limestone. Zeigler-Harris scored five TDs last week in a win over Aurora Central Catholic, which helped EP snap a 26-game losing streak dating to 2018. The win Friday helped EP snap a 21-game Mid-Illini Conference loss string. He ran 26 times for 246 yards on Friday.
Kainon McQueary, Washington
The running back ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries to help the Panthers (1-2) to a 44-22 victory over Mid-Illini Conference rival Metamora on Friday at Babcook Field. Quarterback Jake Stewart finished with 133 yards of total offense, including 83 yards rushing and a TD on nine carries; he added 50 yards passing.
Kaden Hartnett, Metamora
The quarterback finished 7-for-16 passing with 103 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-22 loss to Mid-Illini Conference rival Washington on Friday. Sophomore running back Mark Frederick finished with 140 rushing yards on eight carries, including an 80-yard TD run for the Redbirds (1-2).
Jake Morin, Eureka
The quarterback tossed three and ran for the other two as the Hornets built a 35-point halftime advantage and never looked back in a 59-0 home win over Heyworth. Eureka (3-0) is ranked No. 8 statewide in Class 3A.
Dax Gentes, El Paso-Gridley
The running back shined on both sides of the ball to help lead unbeaten EP-G to a 14-13 win over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. Gentes blocked the potentially game-tying extra point after GCMS has pulled within one with 3:47 remaining, preserving the win and pushing the Titans to 3-0. He added a pair of first-half touchdowns along with 93 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Jorge Collado, Peoria Notre Dame
All three of the senior defensive lineman's tackles were for a loss, but PND (2-1) lost to Bloomington, 18-12, at Richwoods Stadium. Collado had a sack as the Irish gave up 18 second-quarter points.
Aiden Frail, Elmwood/Brimfield
The running back rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and added a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to lead Elmwood/Brimfield to a 36-14 win over South Fulton on Friday night. Gavin Buhl added a pair of touchdowns for the Trojans (3-0), who rushed for 308 yards on 64 carries.
High school football Week 3: Scores around the Peoria area
Ty Fuller, Tremont
Fuller and Casey Guard combined to run for 205 yards and each scored one touchdown as Tremont (1-2) fell to LeRoy 20-16 on Friday night. Fuller had 117 yards on 13 carries; Guard added 88 yards on 12 carries.
Tanner Sprecher and Kanye Tyler, Pekin
Sprecher ran for 148 yards and a touchdown while adding a key fourth-quarter interception as Pekin (3-0) beat Dunlap 28-19 to open Mid-Illini Conference play. The senior also had an interception late in the fourth quarter to all but seal the road victory. Tyler chipped in 112 yards on the ground with a 10-yard, fourth-quarter TD.
Logan Morse, Farmington
Morse had both an offensive and defense score as Farmington (3-0) cruised to a 57-6 road win over Prairieland Conference foe Warsaw West Hancock. The senior had a 66-yard TD catch from QB Gage Renken, then returned an interception 73 yards for a score as part of a 30-point opening frame.
Aidan Fulton, Illinois Valley Central
The Grey Ghosts receiver caught eight passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, but IVC lost to Tolono Unity 62-20 in an Illini Prairie Conference game Friday night. IVC quarterback Nate Dennison finished 15-for-28 for 191 yards and two TDs, one to Fulton and another to Gabe Ross.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football: Top performances in Peoria area for Week 3 of 2022
