Lake County High School Football: Eight Players Post Major Playoff Numbers
Standouts from Brother Rice, Fenwick, and other local teams produced high yardage totals and touchdowns in the second round of the 2026 IHSA playoffs.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Decatur Washington Jr. carried the ball 15 times for Brother Rice, gaining 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns. His performance helped the team defeat Batavia 49-6 on Saturday. Running back Jameson Davis also contributed to the offensive output during the win.
Fenwick quarterback Myles Hill Jr. threw four touchdown passes for 340 yards. Three of those passes went to Jake Thies, while the fourth was completed to Jimmy Watts. The Friars won their road game against Hononegah 38-13.
Jakobe Baldwin Jr. rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries for IC Catholic Prep. The victory over Johnsburg came by a score of 42-7. Baldwin’s season totals now stand at 1,509 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.
Mount Carmel quarterback Brady Cloherty completed 18 of 19 passes for six touchdowns and one rushing score. The Caravan shut out Barrington 56-0. With his six touchdown passes, Cloherty set a new single-season record for Mount Carmel with 46 total passes for scores.
Nino Capuano Jr. rushed for 271 yards and three touchdowns for St. Ignatius. The Wolfpack defeated Maine South 35-21 in a key playoff win. St. Ignatius utilized a triple-option offense to secure the victory.
Nazareth linebacker Rocco Lopez recovered two fumbles and recorded a sack in the 49-6 win over Simeon. The Nazareth defense held the Wolverines to 60 first-half yards and just 12 rushing yards for the entire game. Five Roadrunners recorded sacks in that contest.
Several other local players produced key stats in second-round games. Peter Panagiotopoulos Jr. caught 10 passes for 167 yards and two scores for Niles Notre Dame in a 48-29 win over Libertyville. Broden Mackert Jr. rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns for Providence in a 42-34 win over Morgan Park. Tivias Caldwell Jr. scored three rushing touchdowns for St. Francis in a 42-14 win over Woodstock. Damacio Ortegon Jr. caught six passes for 116 yards in Montini’s 41-7 loss to Morris. Timmy Swanson Jr. recorded a fumble recovery, an interception, and a blocked kick for St. Rita in a 17-7 loss to Downers Grove North.
