Here are this week's candidates for the Antonio's Pizza Prime Time Performer. You can vote once every 12 hours until the polls close on Friday at 5pm. The winner will receive a $20 gift card to Antonio's Pizza!
Dalton Handlin (Rochester forward) One of the best goal scorers in the area all year long, Dalton Handlin, continues to terrorize goalkeepers in the postseason. The Rocket forward scored twice against Lincoln in the regional semifinal and then followed that up with a hat trick in the regional championship against Southeast on Saturday.
Kelby Phillips (Springfield midfielder) How many sophomores can say they currently hold an IHSA record and will continue to add to it for the next two years? Not too many that we know of. Springfield High soccer’s Kelby Phillips can raise his hand. Phillips currently has 47 assists this season and has tied the state record of 88 total and he’s not even finished with his second season yet. Phillips, along with Logan Willard and Nate Cheung carried the scoring load for the Senators, as they locked up yet another regional championship.
Sam Sergent (SHG Running Back) Slammin' Sammy may have added “Showtime” to his nickname on Friday night. In the battle of the CS8 unbeatens, the Cycs running back shined brightest on the big stage. Sam Sergent powered his way for 330 yards on 36 carries and scored half of SHG’s touchdowns against Rochester.
Joe Brannan (Jacksonville Quarterback) The Crimson play caller was calm, cool and collected on the sideline even when Jacksonville fell down by ten points in the second half to Glenwood. He put together three quick scoring drives that ended with two touchdown passes to Noah Pickens and one that he kept himself in the second half and got Mark Grounds his first win over Glenwood in 21 years.
Drayton Davis (Athens DB) With their season on the line yet again, the Athens Warriors got two big plays from defensive back Drayton Davis that helped them beat Plains on the road and get that fifth win that got them into the playoffs. Davis forced a fumble that Matthew Selinger returned for a touchdown and then came up with a 58 yard pick six to put the game on ice.
Jace Franklin (Williamsville Running Back) This is probably the 4th or 5th time the Bullet running back has been on the prime time performer list and we’re willing to bet you’ll see him quite a few more times next season as well when he’s a senior. The Williamsville work horse accounted for four touchdowns and 207 yards on the ground as the Bullets got their fifth win, making them one of the most dangerous 5-4 teams in the 3A playoff bracket.
Jack Eason (New Berlin Wide Receiver) With the Pretzels looking at a deficit on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, Cam Cummings went to wide receiver Jack Eason and he scored from 75 yards out to put New Berlin on top of West Hancock. Eason’s touchdown gave New Berlin a 7-2 record on the season locking up a date in round one on their home turf with Nashville.
Andre Booker (Southeast Lineman) The Southeast Spartans wrapped up their season with a big win over MacArthur and huge reason why was Booker. He had three sacks, one for a safety, he forced a fumble, he had a pick six and he totaled five tackles against the Generals. That’s one heck of an evening.
Blake Heimsness (Taylorville Quarterback) The Taylorville Tornadoes put the finishing touches on a perfect regular season Friday night with a 38-21 win over Chillicothe IVC and it was Heimsness who led the way, finding three different receivers for four touchdown passes. Heimsness completed 11 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns and the Tornadoes roll into a rematch in round one of the playoffs with Apollo rival Mt. Zion.
Clay Winks (Pawnee Running Back) It’s hard to pick just one Prime Time Performer from Pawnee after they stormed through Metro-East for a huge 56-8 win to move their winning streak to eight games heading into the playoffs where they are poised to make a deep run in 1A with the power they have. We’ll go with Clay Winks this week for the Indians who had just four carries on Friday night but scored on two of them and totaled 111 yards. Pawnee averaged 12.7 yards per carry Friday night. Tough night for the Knight’s defense.
JacAnthony Childress (Lanphier Running Back) In the Lions' last game of the season, JacAnthony Childress scored in three different ways and put up four touchdowns. Childress had a pick six to start the scoring, and then had two receiving touchdowns and one rushing and totaled 129 yards of total offense to lead Coach Jay Nixson's team to four wins on the year.
Tyler Johnson (Plains Cross Country) The best Cardinals cross country runner was also the best in the regional on Saturday. Tyler Johnson took first place in the Franklin 1A cross country regional with a time of 15:47 and will head into sectionals next weekend at Elmwood as one of the favorites to win and make a return trip to state.
Adrienne and Maria Brauer (Porta Cross Country) The Porta sisters took first and second at the Franklin 1A cross country regional race on Saturday, with Adrienne finishing first at 19:01, while her sister Maria came in second at 19:13. The Bluejays finished second in team standings led by the twins.
