2024 Football Capsules: Final statistics, All-Conference picks and more for New Trier, Loyola and Highland Park

The football season has come and gone, but at least we have the memories.

To help you remember, or in case you missed it, we compiled season summaries — team records and notes, player stats and more – for the three programs in our coverage area: New Trier, Loyola Academy and Highland Park high schools.

Two local stars also earned statewide recognition from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. Loyola Academy running back Drew MacPherson and New Trier kicker/punter Niki Dugandzic were All-State selections in Class 8A. See below for more on their special seasons.

NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL: 2-7 overall, 1-4 Central Suburban League South

Team Notes
• 5th in conference
• Points scored: 143 (15.9 per game)
• Opponents points: 263 (29.2 per game)
• Missed playoffs for third straight season and fourth time in 18 seasons

Results
• L — 42-14 vs Naperville North (7-2)
• W — 24-8 vs Yorkville (4-5)
• L — 43-0 at Prospect (7-2)
• L — 27-3 vs Palatine (8-1)
• L — 50-3 at Maine South (6-3)
• L — 40-20 vs Evanston (3-6)
• W — 56-12 at Glenbrook North (2-7)
• L — 38-16 at Glenbrook South (5-4)
• L — 21-10 versus Deerfield (5-4)

All-Conference: John Fitzgerald, senior linebacker; Jayden Salazar, senior defensive lineman/running back; Niki Dugandzic, senior kicker/punter; Colton Berg, senior linebacker/running back; Johnny Morrison, senior linebacker

All-State: Niki Dugandzic, senior kicker/punter

Individual Stats (Offense)
PASSING
• Patrick Heneghan (Sr.): 96 completions/203 attempts, 1,004 yards, 4 TDs/1 INT

RUSHING
• Patrick Heneghan (Sr.): 63 attempts, 368 yards (5.84 yards per carry), 4 TDs
• Declan O’Meara (So., 3 games): 44 attempts, 294 yards (6.68 yards per carry), 3 TDs
• Colton Berg (Sr.): 59 carries, 251 yards (4.25 yards per carry), 2 TD
• Dylan Benjamin (Sr.): 17 carries, 128 yards (7.53 yards per carry)

RECEIVING
• Ben Zieziula (Sr.): 26 catches, 314 yards, 3 TDs
• Will Miller (So.): 26 catches, 246 yards, TD
• Alex Fairchild (So.): 15 catches, 158 yards, TD
• Dylan Benjamin (Sr.): 13 catches, 102 yards

KICKING
• Niki Dugandzic (Sr.): 43.7 yards per punt (long of 66), 6 field goals (long of 43), 100% extra points, 24 of 29 touchbacks

Individual Stats (Defense)
• Colton Berg (Sr. LB): 58 tackles (37 solo), 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass deflections
• John Fitzgerald (Sr. LB): 53 tackles(32 solo), tackle for loss
• Johnny Morrison (Sr. LB): 41 tackles(24 solo), tackle for loss, fumble recovery, interception
• Anthony Aguilar (Jr. DL): 31 tackles(16 solo), 4 tackles for loss, interception, 7 QB hurries
• Finn DeGroot (Sr. DB): 29 tackles(14 solo), pass deflection, interception
• Luke Solomon (Sr. LB): 25 tackles (19 solo), tackle for loss, QB hurry
• Jayden Salazar (Sr. DT): 21 tackles (9 solo), 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 QB hurries
• Dylan Benjamin (Sr. CB): 14 tackles (7 solo), sack, 4 interceptions, pass deflection

LOYOLA ACADEMY: 12-2 overall, 4-0 Chicago Catholic League Blue, IHSA Class 8A champions

Team Notes
• Third straight 8A state championship
• Chicago Catholic League Blue champions
• 7-2 regular season
• 39-3 record in past three seasons
• Fourth straight season beating Lincoln-Way East in postseason
• Points scored: 436 (31.14 per game)
• Opponents points: 217 (15.5 per game)

Results
• L — 34-7 vs East St. Louis (8-1; Class 5A state champion)
• W — 42-7 at Glenbard West (4-5)
• L — 35-21 vs St. Francis (7-2)
• W — 28-21 vs Brother Rice (5-4)
• W — 35-7 at DePaul College Prep (7-2; Class 4A state champion)
• W — 27-6 at St. Ignatius (3-6)
• W — 42-6 vs Providence Catholic (4-5)
• W — 34-16 at Carmel Catholic (3-6)
• W — 31-7 at Mount Carmel (7-2, Class 7A state champion)
• Playoffs: W — 48-6 vs Belleville East (5-4)
• Playoffs: W — 24-20 at Marist (8-1)
• Playoffs: W — 35-14 vs Maine South (6-3)
• Playoffs: W — 27-24 at Lincoln-Way East (9-0)
• State championship: W — 35-14 vs York (7-2)

All-Conference: Charlie Daly, senior linebacker; Ryan Fitzgerald, senior quarterback; Thomas Ghislandi, senior defensive end; Joe Herbert, senior center**; Brendan Loftus, senior tight end; Drew MacPherson, senior running back*; Charlie Prior, senior defensive back; Donovan Robinson, senior defensive back/kick returner
* League MVP; ** League Co-Lineman of the Year

All-State: Drew MacPherson, senior running back

Individual Stats (Offense)
PASSING
• Ryan Fitzgerald (Sr.): 146 completions/211 attempts (69%), 1,773 yards, 24 TDs/3 INT
• Dom Maloney (So.): 50 completions/83 attempts, 734 yards (61%), 10 TDs/1 INT

RUSHING
• Drew Macpherson (Sr. RB): 175 carries, 1,179 yards (6.7 yards per carry), 15 TDs
• Ryan Fitzgerald (Sr. QB): 84 carries, 407 yards (4.0 ypc), TD
• Luke Foster (Sr. RB): 75 carries, 369 yards (4.9 ypc), 3 TDs

RECEIVING
• Drew MacPherson (Sr. RB): 59 catches, 709 yards, 7 TDs
• Gavin Vradenburg (Sr. WR): 49 catches, 572 yards, 6 TDs
• Will Carlson (Sr. WR): 28 catches, 355 yards, 9 TDs
• Conlon Kane (Sr. WR): 26 catches, 391 yards, 5 TDs
• Robert Clingan (Jr. WR): 9 catches, 86 yards, TD

KICKING
• Zak Zeman (Jr.): 6 field goals, 56 extra points

Individual Stats (Defense)
• Charlie Daly (Sr. LB) 98 tackles (65 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, forced fumble, interception
• Max Mendoza (Sr. LB): 72 tackles (53 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 5 pass breakups
• Charlie Prior (Sr. DB): 68 tackles (46 solo), 3 tackles for loss, sack, forced fumble, 3 pass breakups, interception, blocked kick
• John Baum (Sr. LB): 56 tackles (27 solo), forced fumble, blocked kick
• Gavin King (Jr. LB): 56 tackles (31 solo), 3 tackles for loss, sack, fumble recovery (for touchdown)
• Micky Maher (Sr. DB): 55 tackles (44 solo), tackle for loss, 6 pass breakups, interception, blocked kick
• Tommy Ghislandi (Sr. DE): 53 tackles (36 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 12 QB hurries
• Henry Newton (Jr. LB): 50 tackles (34 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions
• Kai Calcutt (Jr. DL): 46 tackles (25 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
• Nick Richter (Jr. DL): 42 tackles (22 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, fumble recovery
• Donovan Robinson (Sr. DB): 41 tackles (33 solo), 3 tackles for loss, sack, 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions (1 touchdown)
• Michael Dooley (Sr. DB): 41 tackles (32 solo), 8 pass breakups, touchdown

HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL: 3-6 overall, 3-2 in Central Suburban League North

Team Notes
• 3rd in conference
• 3-game winning streak to end season
• Points scored: 140 (15.5 per game)
• Opponents points: 248 (27.9 per game)

Results
• L — 30-27 vs Leyden (4-5)
• L — 21-0 at Deerfield (5-4)
• L — 65-7 at Fremd (8-1)
• L — 22-0 at Buffalo Grove (2-7)
• L — 37-12 at Maine West (8-1)
• L — 15-13 at Niles North (2-7)
• W — 21-14 versus Niles West (5-4)
• W — 17-8 vs Maine East (3-6)
• W — 43-36 vs Vernon Hills (1-8)

All-Conference: Lucas Gordon, junior wide receiver/defensive back; JT Killeen, senior defensive end/running back; Michael Bryant, senior quarterback; Luis Ramirez-Huicochea, senior offensive/defensive lineman; Charles Scott, senior offensive/defensive lineman; Spencer Auslander, senior wide receiver/defensive back; Zach You, senior offensive/defensive lineman

Individual Stats (Offense)
PASSING
Michael Bryant (Sr.): 109 completions/212 attempts (51.4%), 1,575 yards, 12 TDs/9 INT

RUSHING
• JT Killeen (Sr.): 49 carries, 362 yards (7.4 yards per carry), TD
• Michael Bryant (Sr. QB): 37 carries, 114 yards (3.1 yards per carry), 4 TDs
• Jayden Corchado (So.): 51 carries, 107 yards, 2 TDs
• Eli Moore (Sr.): 24 carries, 81 yards

RECEIVING
• Lucas Gordon (Jr.): 52 catches, 1,008 yards, 10 TDs
• Andrew Nikolakakis (Sr.): 14 catches, 158 yards, TD
• JT Killeen (Sr.): 10 catches, 84 yards

Individual Stats (Defense)
• Lucas Gordon (Jr. DB): 62 tackles (22 solo), 3 tackles for loss, interception (touchdown)
• JT Killeen (Sr. DE): 49 tackles (32 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 pass breakups
• Gabe Leon (Jr. LB) 48 tackles (14 solo), 4 tackles for loss
• Charles Scott (Sr. DL): 39 tackles (15 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups
• Zach Torres (Sr. DL): 36 tackles (11 solo), 6 tackles for loss
• Landon Mills (Jr.: 29 tackles (19 solo), 8 tackles for loss
• Jackson Droll (Sr.): 29 tackles (9 solo) 2 tackles for loss
• Andrew Nikolakakis (Sr. DB): 22 tackles (9 solo), 2 interceptions, fumble recovery

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