05/04/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - The top players in the ABV coverage area represent strong programs that have represented their schools in fine fashion, leading the way to individual and team success.

Not just this season but all through their time wearing the school colors.

Breese Central senior quarterback Preston Baker put together a marvelous two year starting stretch for the Cougars in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Central went 21-4 in his tenure under center, with the Cougars reaching the state quarterfinals last fall after winning their first 12 contests.

Baker was impressive, tossing the ball around the yard.

The 6-2, 185 senior signal caller completed 127-of-200 passing for 2,489-yards and 32 TD's.

In a playoff win at Murphysboro, Baker passed for 232-yards and a pair of long first half touchdowns in a dominating 34-7 victory.

Baker was also a key part of the Cougars' boy's basketball squad that was a sectional finalist last winter.

Baker will play college football at North Central (IL.) College, a Division III powerhouse program and has added to the prep hardware with the ASV 4A POY.

In Class 1A Casey-Westfield junior Luke Karras gets the nod for POY.

The 6-3, 210 running back/linebacker rushed 183 times for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns for 10-2 Warriors.

Defensively he led the team in tackles (42) and assists (87).

The Warriors won two playoff games, making it to the quarterfinals in 1A.

The junior is getting some notice from multiple college teams heading into his senior season.

Karras is the second consecutive C-W player to get the 1A POY.

Running back/linebacker Conner Sullivan earned the 1A award for 2023-24.

Karras is also the great nephew of NFL Hall of Fame player defensive lineman Alex Karras.

Not many players at any level of football produce the kind of numbers in the air that Chester quarterback Zain Al-Jassim had in his three seasons running the show for the Yellow Jackets.

Al-Jassim passed for 5,033-yards in his three seasons, with 2,151 coming during a fantastic 2024-25 campaign.

Chester finished the season 9-2 with a 8-1 regular season mark and a playoff win against Westville.

The Yellow Jackets' season ended with a road loss at eventual 2A state runner up Maroa-Forsyth.

Al-Jassim threw 25 touchdown passes last fall and ended up with 48 TD's for his career.

He completed 125-of-199 passes for a 62.8 percentage.

He was Cahokia Conference Illinois Division MVP as both a junior and senior along with being the first team league quarterback in all three seasons he started.

Perhaps most versatile of the players on this list is the 3A POY.

Roxana senior running back Andruw Ellis played a lot of football in the past three seasons for the Shells on both sides of the ball.

As a defensive back Ellis played a bunch since his freshman season and became a big-time offensive threat as a junior and senior.

The Northern Illinois football recruit rushed for 2,040-yards in his two main seasons carrying the ball and he holds he school record for most yards in a game.

His first game as a starting tailback his junior year, he rushed for 305-yards on just 12 attempts in a 27-0 win over Jerseyville.

He scored all four of the TD's in the win, which was the opening game of what turned out to be a 12-1 season which ended in a 3A semifinal loss to Mt. Carmel.

Ellis finished his career with 897-yards on the ground as a senior, as the Shells made their third consecutive playoff appearance.

As a defensive back finished with seven interceptions, four in his sophomore season.

Johnston City made an exceptional run in the playoffs last season, reaching the 2A state semifinals, losing at home to Maroa-Forsyth.

In the past five seasons, the Indians were 47-7 under head coach Todd Thomas, including a 6-0 covid19 spring season.

The 11-2 Indians made their second semifinal appearance in the four seasons in 2024-25.

They earned the “Team of the Year” by making the area's longest postseason run.