Top performers in Week 1 of Rockford-area high school football

Here are some of the top performances in the Rockford area from the opening week of the 2024 IHSA football season.

Charlie Maier, Boylan

Maier, one of Boylan’s captains, had six tackles and an interception as Boylan picked off four passes in a 14-13 win over Freeport. Maier also kicked both extra points, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter.

Boylan’s defense

The Titans beat Freeport 14-13 despite gaining only 154 yards and averaging 3.1 yards per play. They did this by forcing five turnovers — including interceptions by Charlie Maier, Mikey Hernandez, Trey Hernandez and Joe McNamara — and holdingFreeport to zero-for-8 on third-down conversions and 0-for-1 on fourth down.

Cam Verner, Freeport

Verner ran for 106 yards on 11 attempts, including both Freeport touchdowns, in the Pretzels’ 14-13 loss to Boylan.

Kurt Smith, Hononegah

Smith had a game-high 74 yards rushing and a touchdown on only five carries in Hononegah's 48-6 win over Auburn. He also had a team-high four unassisted tackles at linebacker as Hono's defense held Auburn to 46 total yards.

Jahmani Muhammad, Harlem

Muhammad ran for 117 yards, including a 41-yard TD, in Harlem’s 21-10 win over Belvidere.

Matt Swanson and Dwayne Broom, Harlem

Swanson ran for 124 yards on 13 carries in Harlem’s 21-10 win over Belvidere, teaming with Dwayne Broom (five carries for 89 yards) to give the Huskies multiple running threats besides two-time 1,000-yard runner Jahmani Muhammad.

Brenyn Brickson, Harlem

Brickson led Harlem’s defense in a 21-10 win over Belvidere with nine tackles, including three tackles for loss.

Ben Bucher, Belvidere North

Bucher had his first 100-yard game, rushing for 113 yards on only six carries. The linebacker also had a key sack in North's 29-0 victory over Guilford.

Erick Roman, Belvidere North

Roman ran for 95 yards on only three carries and also started at linebacker in North's 29-0 win over Guilford.

Cooper Hoffman, Durand/Pecatonica

The star senior quarterback ran for 78 yards on only eight carries and completed 16 of 20 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns to lead Du/Pec to a thrilling 32-26 win over Stockton. Hoffman had 344 total yards on only 28 plays, averaging 12.3 yards every time he ran or threw the ball.

Jaxon Diedrich, Durand/Pecatonica

Diedrich caught nine passes for 152 yards to help the Rivermen edge Stockton 32-26.

Stockton's running game

Four Blackhawks finished with between 66 and 107 yards rushing in a 32-26 loss to Du/Pec. Stockton finished with 325 yards on 60 carries and passed for 95 more to finish with 420 total yards.

Bradley Dahl, North Boone

Dahl caught a game-winning 11-yard touchdown pass from RJ Wolski in the fourth quarter to rally North Boone to an 18-13 win over Oregon.

Logan Weems, Oregon

Weems ran for 97 yards and a TD on 24 carries in Oregon's 18-13 loss to North Boone.

David Ballard, Rockford Lutheran

Ballard had an interception, returned a punt for a touchdown and caught a 40-yard TD pass from his brother, Daniel Ballard, in a 49-6 win over Winnebago.

Gavin Sanders, Rockford Lutheran

Sanders ran for over 150 yards and four touchdowns in Lutheran's 49-6 win over Winnebago.

Dylan Manning, Rochelle

Manning ran for 107 yards and a TD on only five carries in Rochelle’s 39-20 win over Woodstock.

Roman Villoalobos, Rochelle

Villoalobos ran for 119 yards and a TD on 14 carries in Rochelle’s 39-20 victory over Woodstock.

Grant Gensler, Rochelle

Gensler ran for 89 yards and three TDs and made two tackles on defense in Rochelle’s 39-20 win over Woodstock.

Gus Mumford and JT Stephenson, Polo

Mumford had 140 yards and two TDs on 10 carries and Stephenson 100 yards and two TDs on nine rushes in Polo’s 44-8 win over South Beloit in 8-man football.

Jaxsyn Kempel, Eastland/Pearl City

Kempel ran for 47 yards on 11 carries to team with Drayen Zier (70 yards on 21 carries) to give E/PC just enough offense to beat Galena 22-6.

Mica Toms, Milledgeville

Toms returned three kicks — all for touchdowns — in the Missiles’ 80-8 win in 8-man football over Ashton-Franklin Center. He scored on punt returns of 73 and 70 yards and on an 87-yard kickoff return.

Sebastian Bracius, Jefferson

Bracius completed 12 of 27 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, without an interception, in Jefferson's 32-20 loss to East.

Lashawn Gathright, Jefferson

Gathright ran for 107 yards on 14 carries, including a 64-yard touchdown, and was Jefferson's top defensive player in a 32-20 loss to East.

Tyeshaun Whittie and Zy'Air Lee, East

Whittie ran for a game-high 122 yards on 13 carries and Lee added 101 yards and three TDs on 17 rushes in East's 32-20 win over Jefferson.

Matt Trowbridge is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at mtrowbridge@rrstar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @MattTrowbridge.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Top performers in Week 1 of Rockford-area high school football