The following is from the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears announced today that head coach Gavin Johnston of Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood has been named the Chicago Bears High School “Coach of the Week” for Week 8 and quarterback Aiden Cyr of Hoffman Estates High School in Hoffman Estates was named the Chicago Bears “High School All-Star.” The “Coach of the Week” and “High School All-Stars” programs are brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. The Bears will make a $2,000 donation to the Reed-Custer football program and direct a $500 donation to the youth football program of Cyr’s choice.
About “Coach of the Week” & “High School All-Star”
The Chicago Bears “Coach of the Week” program was launched in 1996 and “High School All-Star” program in 2011. The “Coach of the Week” program honors outstanding Illinois high school coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge, character, leadership, discipline and teamwork abilities. The nomination criteria for the “High School All-Star” program includes on-field performance, community involvement and good sportsmanship. Deserving high school coaches and players are nominated by a panel of local prep authorities and the winning player is selected each week from August 27-October 23. Since the program’s inception, the Bears have donated more than $326,500 to Illinois high schools in support of their football programs. For more information, please visit chicagobears.com/community.
Gavin Johnston
On Oct. 15, Johnston and the Reed-Custer Comets varsity football team (7-1) won their home conference game against the Coal City Coalers (5-3) of Coal City by a score of 33-9, making it the Comets’ first win over the Coalers since 2008. With the win, Reed-Custer improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference. After tallying just 12 wins during the past eight seasons, this will be the first time since 2009 that the Comets have qualified for the postseason. Reed-Custer hired Johnston for the head coach position in 2018, a 2007 Reed-Custer graduate and former quarterback of the Comets. Johnston is also an alumnus and former quarterback of Olivet Nazarene University and Millikin University. The Reed-Custer Comets will play at Herscher (2-6) on Friday.
Aiden Cyr
On Oct. 15, the senior quarterback led the Hoffman Estates Hawks (7-1) to a 49-20 home conference game victory against the Schaumburg Saxons (2-6) of Schaumburg, giving the Hawks their first MSL West title since 1994. During the first quarter, the Hawks trailed 12-6 until Cyr had a spectacular performance, outscoring the Saxons 43-8 in the next three quarters. Cyr completed 25 of 37 passes for 353 yards and six touchdowns during the game. Hoffman Estates also guaranteed itself a playoff berth with the win. The Hoffman Estates Hawks will play at Palatine (5-3) on Friday.
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2021 Chicago Bears Coach of the Week Winners
Week 7 – Jake Brosman, Hampshire HS
Week 6 – Mike Fitzgerald, York HS
Week 5 – Matt Miller, St. Ignatius Prep
Week 4 – Corey Olson, Palatine HS
Week 3 – Dave Mills, Wauconda HS
Week 2 – Dennis Piron, Batavia HS
Week 1 – Peter Panagakis, Wheeling HS
2021 Chicago Bears High School All-Star
Week 7 – Jordan Anderson, Joliet Catholic HS
Week 6 – Zach Hinds, Riverton Academy HS
Week 5 – Chase Hanson, Mascoutah HS
Week 4 – Marco Maldonado, Loyola Academy
Week 3 – Hector Ramirez, Chicago Academy HS
Week 2 – Kaiden Miller, Grayslake Central HS
Week 1 – Hank Beatty, Rochester HS