Steve Millar’s 4 takeaways from Week 4 of high school football season in Southland

Week 4 was highlighted by a pair of matchups between teams ranked in the Southland’s top 10.

Sandburg continued to impress with a 28-22 road win over Lincoln-Way West.

Marist went into overtime for the second time this season. But after beating archrival Brother Rice 34-27 in Week 2, the RedHawks fell a point short Friday in a 31-30 loss to Joliet Catholic.

This week, we’ll move past the halfway point of the regular season. So, let’s take a look at where we’re at with my takeaways following Week 4.

First-half favorites

Which players in the area were the most impressive over the first month of the season and who looks like a good bet to make the all-area team at the end of the year?

Let’s start with the guys who have stood out the most to me in games I’ve watched.

Senior quarterback Jack Elliott , a Vanderbilt recruit, has been spectacular for Mount Carmel, including in Friday’s 45-24 win over St. Ignatius when he ran for 198 yards and four touchdowns. No, that’s not an error. Ran, not threw.

Mount Carmel receiver Quentin Burrell , Sandburg quarterback Anthony Shelton and receiver Charlie Snoreck , Morgan Park receiver Nasir Rankin , Richards running back/linebacker Myles Mitchell , St. Rita running back Nick Herman and Lincoln-Way West receiver Austin Rowswell are all on my all-star team for the first half.

And I want Sandburg senior Matt Marek and Marist junior Rico Schrieber blocking for them.

I’d take my chances against any offense if you give me Marist defensive lineman Brad Fitzgibbon , Mount Carmel linebacker Matthew Mucha , St. Rita linebacker Justin Buckner , Brother Rice linebacker Christian Pierce , Morgan Park defensive back Jovan Clark and Richards defensive back Austin Synoga .

For a kicker, give me Lincoln-Way West junior Zach Hermanson .

How about some guys I haven’t seen play yet in 2024 but can’t wait to?

Lincoln-Way East quarterback Jonas Williams (Oregon) and defensive lineman Caden O’Rourke (Northwestern) are superstars. I will get to see them Friday against Homewood-Flossmoor.

And there’s a bevy of running backs I want to watch like St. Laurence senior Harley Rizzs , Argo senior Steven Holmes and the whole crew of Joliet Catholic backs led recently by senior Larry Stringham .

Who’s the first-half offensive MVP? It’s hard to choose between Elliott and Williams, but I feel like Elliott has had to carry his team more, so he’s my pick right now.

Defensive MVP? Give me Buckner.

Season-changing win for JCA?

What a huge victory it was for the Hilltoppers over previously unbeaten Marist.

Just how vital was it?

Let’s imagine Marist won in overtime instead. And let’s say Joliet Catholic fails to upset two-time defending state champions Nazareth or Mount Carmel.

The Hilltoppers could very well have been 4-4 going into The Holy War with Providence, needing a Week 9 win to make the playoffs against a rival that may also be fighting for its playoff life. How crazy could that have been?

Joliet Catholic appears to have answered some big questions, however, on the offensive side. If junior quarterback Lucas Simulick can continue to progress, there’s no reason this team can’t contend again in Class 5A.

Don’t count them out

Brother Rice is 1-3 following seven-point losses to Marist, St. Rita and Loyola. That’s three heartbreakers in a row, so the biggest question now is not regarding the Crusaders’ talent but their resilience.

If it can avoid letting down and giving up on the season, this team can fight its way into the playoffs and has shown it is fully capable of beating just about anyone.

Crete-Monee, meanwhile, started 0-2, losing to Richards 27-26 on a last-second TD and taking one on the chin 46-24 against a very good St. Charles North team.

That tough out-of-conference schedule made the Warriors better, and they’re rolling now behind junior quarterback Derrin Couch .

Don’t forget about Crete-Monee when the Class 6A playoffs roll around.

Most eye-opening score

Shepard 25, Argo 10.

OK, let’s be honest. There weren’t really any mind-blowing scores last week. But this win says something for Shepard, which put a pause on the Argonauts’ feel-good story of the year.

After a disappointing 3-6 season in 2023, the Astros might be back on track, winning three straight after an opening loss to Joliet West.

Senior defensive lineman Chris Stavrakis has dominated with 6 1/2 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

Keep an eye on Shepard, starting with a very interesting game Friday night at Evergreen Park.