Peoria High football player voted as the Journal Star athlete of the week

Peoria High football player Malachi Washington was voted as the Journal Star athlete of the week.

Webb earned 73 of 78 votes, running away with the three-way vote to give the Lions their second consecutive winner. The senior running back is a big reason why Peoria High is playing for the Class 5A football state championship on Saturday morning.

Washington rushed for 383 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries in last Saturday's 76-56 semifinal win over Morris. He leads the Lions (12-1) into the title against LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy (9-4) set for a 10 a.m. Saturday kickoff.

IHSA football:Every story from Peoria High's run to the Class 5A football championship game

The poll closed at noon Friday. Information about the nominees is below.

If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on Twitter @pjstarsports. Last week, TQ Webb of the Peoria High football team was named JS athlete of the week.

More:'We're fired up': Peoria High football runs past Morris to secure a spot in title game

Mya Wardle, Peoria Notre Dame girls basketball

The junior was named Most Valuable Player at the Fairbury Prairie Central Tournament, helping the Irish go 4-0. Her week started with 22 points in a 78-20 win over Pontiac on Tuesday. Wardle scored 16 points with seven rebounds and four steals in Thursday's 54-28 win over Ottawa. She then went for 19 points and six assists in beating East Peoria 65-14 on Friday. PND then wrapped up the week on Saturday by beating the hosts 72-27.

More:Here are the Peoria area's top 12 high school girls basketball players for 2022-23

Ashlyn May, Fieldcrest girls basketball

The senior led Fieldcrest to a 4-0 opening week record in the Flanagan Tournament. She scored 15 points in Saturday's 65-42 win over Seneca. May eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career in the game, becoming just the fourth player in program history to hit the plateau. In Fieldcrest's first game last Monday, she scored 16 in a 62-20 win over Dwight, while adding 16 points in Tuesday's 41-point victory against the hosts. May then scored 16 points in a 50-24 win over Ottawa Marquette on Thursday.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Results of Peoria athlete of the week poll: Peoria High football player