Week 2 takeaways: Geneva’s Bennett Konkey and Mount Carmel’s receivers dazzle; Loyola’s time to earn No. 1

It was supposed to be the year of the quarterback in Illinois high school football, but the wide receivers are stealing the show so far.

Geneva’s Bennett Konkey posted so many highlight plays Friday against Oswego that it’s difficult to decide which was the most impressive.

Konkey is one of the fastest players in Illinois. He’s a state champion in track, and that burst was on display when he sped past half the defense for a 53-yard touchdown catch.

Konkey outjumped Iowa State recruit Dontrell Young to grab a 38-yard touchdown pass and even threw a key pass, finding quarterback Ben Peterson on a two-point conversion late in the game.

Geneva lost to Oswego, but Konkey opened eyes for the second consecutive game. The
Illinois recruit finished with 10 catches for 217 yards with four touchdown catches, all of 27 yards or longer.

Konkey had 178 receiving yards, two touchdown catches and a kick return for a touchdown in the Vikings’ Week 1 victory against Libertyville.

‘‘We just competed with the second-best team in [Class] 8A last year,’’ Konkey said. ‘‘That shows something about us as a football team.’’

More receivers sparkling

Quentin Burrell and Marshaun Thornton, Mount Carmel’s highly regarded receiver duo, earned raves in Week 2 for their roles in dragging the Caravan back from a 30-0 deficit to beat St. Joseph Regional of New Jersey.

Burrell, a Michigan recruit, had seven catches for 85 yards and three touchdowns. Thornton caught two touchdown passes.

Thornton, a 6-2 junior, has scholarship offers from Auburn, Notre Dame, LSU, Miami and all the prominent Big Ten schools. He also punts and occasionally throws passes on trick plays.

‘‘The sky is the limit for Thornton,’’ Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch said. ‘‘He can play every position on the field and be the best at it. And he plays hard. He takes scout-team reps just to help out the team.’’

Burrell and Thornton have made a few Caravan quarterbacks look very good in recent seasons. Brady Cloherty threw seven touchdown passes Friday, breaking the previous school record of six set by Jack Elliott, who did it twice in 2024, and Jack McBride, who managed it in 1968. It was Cloherty’s first start for Mount Carmel.

Time to prove it

Loyola rose to No. 1 in the Super 25 last week and held on to the ranking after beating Indianapolis Cathedral in Week 2. but the Ramblers have been out of the local spotlight overall. That will change when Loyola hosts St. Rita this week and Brother Rice next week.

Junior quarterback Matthew Lee was excellent against Cathedral, going 21-for-26 for 297 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception.

Lee shared the job with Dom Maloney last season but appears to have taken it over fully this season. Maloney, now a senior, still is making a major contribution as a starting safety. He had a long punt return and a key interception late against Cathedral.

Coaching milestones

Wilmington routed Morrison 48-0 in Week 2 to give coach Jeff Reents his 300th career victory. Reents is only the 10th coach in state history to reach that milestone.

Maine South coach Dave Inserra picked up his 250th career triumph in the Hawks’ triumph Friday against Warren.