2023 Football Capsules: Final statistics, All-Conference picks and more for New Trier, Loyola and Highland Park

Fall 2023 was a season to remember on the local gridiron. The Ramblers of Loyola Academy made history with their second straight state championship, the Giants of Highland Park set new standards for their program and the Trevians of New Trier had some spectacular individual accomplishments.

In case you missed it, or just want to relive it, we summarized the seasons as best we could.

Two local stars also earned statewide recognition from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. Highland Park quarterback David Finfer was an All-State selection in Class 6A, and Loyola Academy kicker/punter/receiver Mike Baker picked up the same honor in Class 8A. See below for more on their special seasons.

NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL: 3-6 overall, 2-3 Central Suburban League South

Team Notes
• 3rd in conference
• Points scored: 156 (17.3 per game)
• Opponents points: 213 (23.7 per game)
• Missed playoffs for second straight season and third time in 17 seasons

Results
• L — 30-12 at Hersey (9-0)
• W — 24-10 at Yorkville (6-3)
• L — 24-20 versus Prospect (7-2)
• L — 22-14 at Barrington (9-0)
• L — 50-3 versus Maine South (8-1)
• L — 26-22 at Evanston (3-6)
• W — 14-7 versus Glenbrook North (2-7)
• L — 35-20 at Glenbrook South (4-5)
• W — 27-9 versus Deerfield (4-5)

All-Conference: Miles Cremascoli, senior wide receiver; Dylan Jeppe, senior linebacker; Niki Dugandzic, junior kicker, punter; Liam Fitzgerald, senior OL/DL; Jackson McCarey, senior running back; Charlie Gardella, senior defensive lineman

Individual Stats (Offense)
PASSING
Patrick Heneghan (Jr., 7 games): 54 completions/109 attempts (54%), 862 yards, 6 TDs/6 INTs

RUSHING
• Jackson McCarey (Sr.): 121 attempts, 782 yards (6.46 yards per carry), 7 TDs
• Patrick Heneghan (Jr., 7 games): 73 attempts, 409 yards (5.6 yards per carry), 3 TDs
• Miles Cremascoli (Sr.): 14 carries, 80 yards (5.71 yards per carry), 1 TD

RECEIVING
• Miles Cremascoli (Sr.): 50 catches, 869 yards, 6 TDs
• Kiernan O’Meara (Sr.): 14 catches, 213 yards

Individual Stats (Defense)
• Dylan Jeppe (Sr. LB): 79 (57 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
• Charlie Gardella (Sr. DE): 57 (45 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, forced fumble
• Colton Berg (Sr. LB): 46 (33 solo), 3 tackles for loss
• Liam Fitzgerald (Sr. DT): 44 (35 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks
• Jayden Salazar (Jr. DT): 43 (36 solo), 8 tackles for loss
• Dylan Benjamin (Jr. CB): 37 (30 solo), tackle for loss
• Nathan Cata (Sr. DB): 34 (26 solo)
• Duncan White (Sr. LB): 30 (20 solo), two tackles for loss, forced fumble
• Jameson Rick (Sr. DB): 28 (24 solo), interception
• Miles Cremascoli (Sr. DB): 23 (22 solo), 5 interceptions
• Franklin Zoloto (Jr. DE): 22 tackles (15 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, forced fumble

LOYOLA ACADEMY: 14-0 overall, 4-0 Chicago Catholic League Blue, IHSA Class 8A champions

Team Notes
• League champions
• Win streak extended to 19 games
• Third undefeated regular season in past four
• Points scored: 485 (34.6 per game)
• Opponents points: 128 (9.1 per game)
• IHSA Class 8A tournament top seed
• Second straight season beating Lincoln-Way East in championship game

Results
• W — 45-7 versus Catholic Central (Michigan) (13-1; Division 5 state champions)
• W — 27-6 at Naperville North (1-8)
• W — 34-7 at Marist (4-5)
• W — 41-24 versus Brother Rice (5-5)
• W — 38-0 versus St. Patrick (2-7)
• W — 21-5 at St. Rita (5-5)
• W — 47-0 at IC Catholic (9-3, 4A semifinalist)
• W — 41-7 versus Benet Academy (4-5)
• W — 23-21 versus Mount Carmel (13-1, 7A state champion)
• Playoffs: W — 45-9 versus Plainfield North (4-6)
• Playoffs: W — 33-6 versus Neuqua Valley (7-4)
• Playoffs: W — 41-7 at St. Ignatius (8-4)
• Playoffs: W — 23-14 versus York (11-2)
• State championship: W — 26-15 versus Lincoln-Way East (13-1)

All-Conference: Ryan Fitzgerald*, junior quarterback; Joe Kelly, senior defensive/offensive lineman**; Jimmy McGovern, senior defensive lineman***; Colin Scheid, senior linebacker; Emmanuel Ofosu, senior cornerback; Quinn Herbert, senior linebacker; Drew MacPherson, junior running back; Nicholas Arogundade, senior wide receiver
* Conference Offensive Player of the Year; ** Conference Lineman of the Year; *** Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year

All-State: Mike Baker, senior kicker, punter, wide receiver

Individual Stats (Offense)
PASSING
• Ryan Fitzgerald (Jr.): 136 completions/214 attempts (63.5%), 2,056 yards, 20 TDs/1 INT
• Lucas Holubar (Sr.): 45 completions/62 attempts, 392 yards (73.6%), 2 TDs/0 INT
• Freedom Ali (Sr.): 7 completions/7 attempts, 68 yards

RUSHING
• Drew Macpherson (Jr. RB): 155 carries, 867 yards (5.5 yards per carry), 9 TDs
• Ryan Fitzgerald (Jr. QB): 107 carries, 712 yards (5.9 ypc), 14 TDs
• Finn Miller (Sr. RB): 81 carries, 609 yards (7.4 ypc), 8 TDs
• Francis Corrigan (Jr. RB): 35 carries, 163 yards (4.4 ypc), 2 TDs

RECEIVING
• Nicholas Arogundade (Sr, WR): 46 catches, 721 yards, 8 TDs
• Will Carlson (Jr., WR): 29 catches, 398 yards, 3 TDs
• Drew MacPherson (Jr., RB): 28 catches, 515 yards, 2 TDs
• Brendan Loftus (Jr. TE): 19 catches, 240 yards 2 TDs
• Michael Baker (Sr., WR/PK): 13 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs
• David Pezza (Sr., WR): 11 catches, 89 yards, 2 TDs

KICKING
• Michael Baker (Sr.): 13 field goals, 54 extra points

Individual Stats (Defense)
• Quinn Herbert (Sr. LB): 91 tackles (41 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
• Colin Scheid (Sr. LB): 90 tackles (43 solo), 4 1/2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
• Jack McGrath (Sr. LB): 80 tackles (47 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception (touchdown), 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
• Ethan Hogg (Sr. LB): 64 tackles (33 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, 13 QB hurries, 1 interception (touchdown)
• Joe Kelly (Sr. DL): 50 tackles (23 solo), 6 1/2 tackles for loss, 1 sack
• Jimmy McGovern (Sr. DL): 49 tackles (25 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, 1 touchdown
• Kenny Langston (Sr. DB): 47 (29 solo), 4 pass breakups, 2 interceptions
• Emmanuel Ofosu (Sr. DB): 38 (30 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 10 pass breakups, 2 interceptions (1 touchdown)
• Davidson Hagedorn (Sr. DL): 38 tackles (17 solo), 2 1/2 tackles for loss
• Connor Sullivan (Jr. DL): 37 tackles (23 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble
• Donovan Robinson (Jr. DB): 36 tackles (26 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 2 punt-return touchdowns
• JT Kurtzweil (Sr. DB): 17 tackles (14 solo), 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions

HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL: 7-4 overall, 3-1 in Central Suburban League North

Team Notes
• 2nd in conference
• First playoff appearance since 2017
• First playoff victory since 2009
• Points scored: 389 (34.5 per game)
• Opponents points: 252 (22.9 per game)

Results
• W — 37-0 at Leyden (2-7)
• L — 21-16 versus Deerfield (4-5)
• W — 42-35 versus Rolling Meadows (2-7)
• L — 64-34 at Conant (3-6)
• L — 20-19 versus Maine West (9-1)
• W — 30-6 versus Niles North (6-3)
• W — 21-17 versus Niles West (6-4)
• W — 47-0 at Maine East (1-8)
• W — 49-34 at Vernon Hills (3-6)
• W — 56-6 at Mather (7-3)
• L — 49-29 host Cary-Grove (12-2, 6A state champions)

All-Conference: David Finfer, senior quarterback*; Nikko Rosenbloom, senior running back/defensive back; Tyler Gleyzer, senior linebacker; Johnny Walker, senior wide receiver/defensive back; Davis Risko-Juarez, senior offensive lineman; Eli Secher, senior offensive lineman; Alex Knight, senior defensive end; Josh Pasternak, senior defensive end; Sebastian Vybral, senior linebacker and kicker
* Conference Offensive Player of the Year, All-State

Individual Stats (Offense)
PASSING
David Finfer (Sr.): 160 completions/273 attempts (58.6%), 2,025 yards, 22 TDs

RUSHING
• David Finfer: 110 carries, 687 yards (6.2 yards per carry), 14 TDs
• Nikko Rosenbloom (Sr.): 64 carries, 317 yards (4.9 yards per carry), 6 TDs
• Tyler Gleyzer (Sr.): 38 carries, 219 yards (5.8 yards per carry), 4 TD

RECEIVING
• Johnny Walker (Sr.): 52 catches, 737 yards, 6 TD
• Nikko Rosenbloom: 40 catches, 447 yards, 5 TD
• Nick Blumer (Sr.): 33 catches, 398 yards, 5 TDs
• Lucas Gordon (Soph.): 17 catches, 190 yards, 1 TD
• Andrew Cortes (Sr.): 11 catches, 210 yards, 3 TDs

Individual Stats (Defense)
• Tyler Gleyzer (LB): 75 tackles (28 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
• Alex Knight (Sr. DE): 66 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5 QB hurries, 2 safeties, 1 fumble recovery, 1 onside kick return touchdown
• Lucas Gordon (So. DB): 51 tackles (18 solo) 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception (touchdown)
• Sebastian Vybral (Sr. LB/PK): 46 tackles (21 solo), 9 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 punt blocks
• Andrew Cortes (Sr. DB): 44 tackles (18 solo), 1 tackle for loss
• Nick Blumer (Sr. DB): 44 tackles (11 solo), 1 interception
• Eli Moore (Jr. LB): 41 tackles (16 solo) 3 tackles for loss, 1 rumble recovery
• Josh Pasternak (Sr. DL): 40 tackles (26 solo), 6 tackles for loss
• Asher Stern (Sr. DB): 29 tackles (13 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception
• Johnny Walker (Sr. DB): 28 tackles (13 solo), 1 tackle for loss), 1 interception

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