Four Downs: Naperville Central's dual-threat offense, Aaron Stewart sparkles, Jack Elliott is rushing again

Naperville Central opened the season with high hopes. The Redhawks were ranked No. 17 in the preseason and expected to lean on their defense early while their offense rounded into shape.

Senior quarterback Sebastian Hayes, who missed his sophomore and junior seasons because of injury, was back. Wide receiver DeShaun Williams, an Indiana State recruit, had to work his way into the offense after transferring from St. Francis.

Naperville Central ran the ball a lot for the first few games while Hayes got his feet wet.

In the second round of the Class 8A playoffs against Fremd, however, Hayes played like a future Big Ten quarterback. The 6-4, 220-pounder was 19-for-26 for 196 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He connected with nine receivers. Williams had nine catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

The Redhawks also have an effective running back in Aiden Clark. He had 36 carries for 173 yards against the Vikings.

The dual-threat offense helped Naperville Central hold off a furious comeback from Fremd and junior quarterback Johnny O’Brien, a Northwestern recruit who threw for 464 yards and four touchdowns.

Everything has fallen into place nicely for the Redhawks, who also feature Vanderbilt recruit Jake Stanish on the defensive line. Next up is a trip to LaGrange to face Lyons in the state quarterfinals.

Warren’s Stewart sparkles

There are star quarterbacks all over the state this season, which has overshadowed the weakness at running back. Several teams that spent most of the season in the Super 25 didn’t run the ball much.

It was notable in the second round of the playoffs, however, that teams with competent running backs (Naperville Central, Lyons, York, Lake Forest, Batavia) pulled off significant victories.

There is one team still alive in the playoffs with a star running back: Warren.

Blue Devils junior Aaron Stewart dominated Barrington in the second round, carrying 42 times for 359 yards and five touchdowns. For the season, he has rushed for 2,348 yards and 32 touchdowns and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry.

At 5-7 and 170 pounds, Stewart is a small, powerful back. Football is his second sport. He’s a nationally ranked wrestler.

Elliott running again for Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel might have the quickest-strike offense in the area. Quarterback Jack Elliott is especially adept at throwing long passes down the sideline for sophomore Quentin Burrell, senior Cooper Lehman and freshman Marshaun Thornton.

For the last two months, however, Elliott’s running game has been limited because of an injury. That changed in the Caravan’s second-round victory against St. Charles North. The Vanderbilt recruit had 13 carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Mount Carmel started the playoffs as the most likely team to win Class 7A. With Elliott running again, the Caravan are an overwhelming favorite to pull off a three-peat.

Cary-Grove loses Abrams

Cary-Grove cruised past Antioch 41-8 in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, and the Trojans did it without star fullback/linebacker Logan Abrams, who will miss the rest of the season with an injury.

Quarterback Peyton Seaburg stepped up and rushed for 102 yards and four touchdowns against the Sequoits. But Abrams’ absence is a major loss on both sides of the ball, especially with powerhouse East St. Louis looming in Class 6A.