Last chance: Vote today for this week’s top high school football player in southwest IL
Week 1 of the prep football season in the metro-east is in the books.
Now’s your chance to vote for the Belleville News-Democrat’s High School Football Player of the Week. The poll closes at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.
To vote again, hit refresh.
Want to nominate an athlete? The BND Athlete of the Week highlights high school varsity football players who put in outstanding performances from the week prior to the opening of the poll. If you want to suggest someone to be included, send an email to Garen Vartanian at gvartanian@bnd.com.
Please include the athlete’s name, school, class, position, and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.
To be clear, this poll is not scientific. In fact, we invite you to vote as many times as you want. It’s all for fun, BND readers. People also may submit the same athlete from week to week.
Before you can make your pick, please complete the validation form by typing “yes” and submitting the form. Once that’s done, the poll will appear.
We are planning to post the results later this week after the poll closes.
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Here are this week’s candidates:
Moisey Trimble, Belleville East High School, senior, running back. Trimble rushed for 118 yards — including a 70-yard touchdown — on 9 carries in a season opening 20-12 road win against Collinsville.
Darrion Millender Jr., Belleville East High School, junior, quarterback. Millender Jr. rushed for 1 touchdown and also threw a touchdown pass in the 20-12 win against Collinsville.
Jayden Howard, Belleville East High School, senior, linebacker. Howard recorded 18 tackles, 1 sack and 3 tackles for loss in the 20-12 win against Collinsville.
Jaedon Coleman, Belleville East High School, senior, linebacker. Coleman recorded 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 interception in the 20-12 victory against Collinsville. Coleman’s interception with 1:40 left sealed the win.
The Belleville East defense. The Lancers defense posted a critical goalline stand late in the 4th quarter and secured a late interception to preserve the 20-12 victory against the Kahoks.
Ethan Bagwell, Collinsville High school, junior, quarterback. Bagwell threw for 1 touchdown in the 20-12 loss to Belleville East.
Quincy Hall, Mascoutah High School, senior, wide receiver/safety. Hall returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown, caught a 44-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 4-yard touchdown in a season opening 49-26 win against Columbia. Hall also recorded 5 tackles, grabbed 4 passes overall, ran for 37 yards on 3 carries and also caught a pass for a 2-point conversion. while recording 5 tackles.
Travis Porter, Highland High School, senior, running back/linebacker. Porter rushed for 4 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion in helping the Bulldogs to a 54-10 road victory against Washington.
Malik Nave, Althoff Catholic High School, senior, running back. Nave rushed for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries in leading the Crusaders to a 28-10 home win against John Burroughs. Nave also had 1 catch for 10 yards to finish with 130 all-purpose yards.
Christopher Caldwell, O’Fallon High School, senior, running back. Caldwell rushed for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns on 31 carries in helping the Panthers to a 23-17 home victory against Normal Community.
Zay Norton, Collinsville High School, junior, middle linebacker. Norton recorded 2 solo tackles and assisted on 7 other tackes for a total of 9 in the 20-12 loss to Belleville East. Norton also recorded 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 1 fumble recovery.
Jahkori Adams, Belleville West High School, junior, running back. Adams rushed for 120 yards and 1 touchdown on 20 carries in a 21-12 loss at Danville.
This story was originally published August 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM.