The Aurora Central Catholic Football Program passed out their end of the season awards at the 2nd Annual ACC Football “Night of Champions”, Sunday evening at Aurora Central Catholic. All the awards were voted on by both the members of the varsity football team, and members of the ACC Coaching Staff. Award included: MVP, Most Improved Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Special Teams Player of the Year, Lineman of the Year, the Father Reardon Award, and the Charger Award for attitude, hustle, and inspiration.

2011 Aurora Central Catholic Football Team Awards:

Co-Most Valuable Player: Kyle Clechenko (St. Charles)

Clechenko made the move to the quarterback position in 2011, after serving as the primary running back the previous season. Clechenko led the Chargers with 791 yards rushing on 143 carries, scoring 7 touchdowns. His efforts in the run game helped the Chargers to a school record 2,217 yards rushing in 2011. He led the Chargers in rushing in 5 of the 9 games, and eclipsed the 100 yard mark in 3 contests, including a 178 yard outburst in the season opener against Rockford Lutheran. Clechenko added 231 passing yards and 5 touchdowns for the Charger offense. His passing efforts were highlighted by a four passing touchdown performance, which included 2 fourth quarter strikes in a 26-25 come from behind win over Marengo. Clechenko finished his career as the 9th all-time leading rusher in ACC history, with 1371 yards.

Co-Most Valuable Player & Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Holzer (Yorkville)

The second year linebacker was a stat filler for the Charger defense in 2011. Holzer led not only ACC in tackles but the entire Fox Valley area with 127 stops, which include 13 tackles for a loss. When the ACC defense was in need of a big play, it seemed every time Holzer was near the football. Holzer finished 2011 with a sack, an interception, a pass defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In 8 of the 9 games, Holzer recorded double-digit tackle numbers, including 18 stops in back to back weeks against Marengo and Immaculate Conception. Holzer sits 12th all-time in tackles at Aurora Central Catholic, having averaged 12 tackles in his two seasons as a Varsity football player.

Offensive Player of the Year: Luke Dickerson (Sugar Grove)

Dickerson, in his first true season as a varsity player, excelled in the a variety of rolls for the Charger offense in 2011. He finished the season second on the team with 634 yards rushing on 86 carries. The 7.4 yard per carry average, is the best in school history for a back with at least 20 carries in a season. Dickerson eclipsed the 100 yard mark twice, including a 173 yard performance on Homecoming against Chicago Christian. Dickerson also led the Chargers in receiving, grabbing 9 passes for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns, both scores coming in the fourth quarter of the Chargers comeback win over Marengo.  Dickerson finished the season with 747 yards of total offense, and 1127 all-purpose yards leading the Chargers in both kick and punt returns.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Nick Homan (Geneva)

In only his first season kicking for the Chargers, Nick Homan’s impact was tremendous in 2011. Homan served as the kickoff specialist for the Chargers in 2011, and help the Chargers win the field position battle on numerous different occasions. Homan boomed 5 touchbacks on the season, forcing the opposition to start their possessions at the 20 yard line. Of the touchbacks, none were bigger than the two he sent into the end zone in the fourth quarter against Marengo, forcing the Indians to drive 80 yards for scores, in which both drives ended in turnovers. Homan averaged 53.5 yards per kick (6 yard line) on the season, and help limit the opposition to just 15 yards per kickoff return.

Lineman of the Year: Izzy Rosa (Montgomery)

Izzy Rosa settled in nicely as the emotional leader for the Chargers in 2011. Only a junior, Rosa finished his second season as the starting left guard in the Chargers Double Wing offense. Rosa helped the Charger offense set a school record for rushing yards in 2011, and was the driving force behind a whopping 5.9 yard per carry average when running to the left side of the ball. Rosa finished the season with 39 tackles defensively in 7 full games, including 9 for a loss, and a sack that resulted in a safety against Rockford Lutheran.

Most Improved Player: A.T. White (Aurora)

While the impact of an offensive lineman may not be able to be seen by the naked eye, the improvement A.T. White had in every category was jaw-dropping. Over the off-season, A.T. numbers in the weight room jumped. White’s bench press increased by 35 pounds, power clean by 30 pounds. His 40 yard dash time improved from a 5.23 to a 4.98. On the field, A.T. White anchored an offensive line that set a school record with 2217 rushing yards in 2011. The left tackle did not allow a sack on the season, and earned more “helmet-decals” for pancake blocks, touchdown springing blocks, and hustle blocks than anyone on the team. Defensively, White finished the season with 27 tackles, including 4 stops for a loss.

 ”Charger” Award: Joe Anger (DeKalb)

Few individuals provide the energy and excitement that Joe Anger provided the Aurora Central Catholic football team in 2011. Coming off a serious shoulder separation this past summer, Anger recovered from surgery and rehab in time for the Chargers to begin fall camp. Anger’s passion and drive to compete was second to none. Anger provided a spark in both the offense and defense in 2011. Anger started three games at right tackle on offense, and was a main stay on the defensive line. Anger finished the season with 27 tackles, including 4 for a loss. The most memorable moment for Anger, and perhaps the Chargers was his Homecoming interception against Chicago Christian. The pick was Anger’s second career interception, which secured his spot on the all-time career interceptions list at ACC.

Father Reardon Award: Alex Karafiat (Aurora)

The Father Reardon Award at Aurora Central Catholic, goes to an individual who displays an unwavering passion to improve himself as a football player, and someone who makes the team better. Father Reardon was a teacher and coach at Aurora Central Catholic back in the late 60′s and early 70′s. Alex Karafiat fit that bill in 2011 for the Chargers. Karafiat never missed an off-season workout, and dedicated himself to improving his fundamentals and technique throughout the summer with or without members of the coaching staff present. Karafiat started at right guard all 9 games for the Chargers, and helped the offense set a school record with 2217 rushing yards. Karafiat also was named Scout Team Player of the Week once, and was third on the team with 11 special teams tackles.