2005 Offensive Player of the Year

Welcome to the Dergo Show!

EDGYTIM/Rivals.com is happy to announce that Morris Community High School's senior running back John Dergo has been named as the 2005 Offensive Player of the Year in Illinois.

The Dergo Show.

So when did I have an idea when John Dergo from Morris would be named as my Offensive Player of the Year from the recently completed 2005 season you ask?

Week 4.

I remember the moment pretty vividly. I was in the EDGYmobile heading back from yet another game and I was on the EDGYcell with one Chicago newspaper scribe. As I was speeding down some backroad, talking about the night's just completed action, it just hit me. "John Dergo is going to be your Chicagoland Player of the Year this year." The scribes reaction? "Really?"

Really.

"John Dergo was as good as anyone we've ever played against. He was simply sensational this year for Morris. We knew he was quick and elusive already, but what impressed me was his exceptional endurance. The thing is that he was just as good on defense as he was on offense. When he had like 350 yards rushing and the rest of the team had 9 yards, it's pretty easy to figure out who their go-to guy was. I'm just really happy that he's graduating this year." Dan Sharp/Joliet Catholic Academy head coach.

John Dergo could easily have been a prima-donna in 2005. Yet what I have always found over the past few seasons, and even more so in 2005, was that I always had the feeling that Dergo was happiest as being considered as just one of the guys.

Yet when it's all said and done, Dergo wound up having a season for the ages. Even the somewhat quiet and reserved Dergo can't ignore the numbers.

3,010 yards rushing in 14 games from the 2005 season.

45 touchdowns.

10.4 yards per average. Kids, that's a first down average on every carry from the 2005 season.

215 yards per game rushing average.

14 games played, 52 touchdowns scored, 56 extra points kicked along with two field goals. Folks, John Dergo average nearly 27 points per game on his own for the Redskins in 2005.

This fall Dergo was the epitome of a high school hero. The kid never left the field and played offense, defense, kicked, punted. Dergo took a team on his back and carries it to s state championship. I doubt what he did against Joliet Catholic, considering the magnitude of the game and the history of the rivalry, will ever been topped. Kids have run for more yards and scored more touchdowns, but this was two undefeated teams in a playoff who were ranked 1-2 in the state. And then, to top it off, he had two 4th quarter interceptions that protected the lead. I think after the season he had, I'm going to want to go watch the kid wrestle this winter. Steve Tucker/Chicago Sun-Times Prep Editor

Wrestling. And football recruiting.

"Why isn't Dergo going to play college football?"

I think I've been asked this question at least 1,500 times or more over the last two months.

The answer? I wish I knew.

It all started in earnest after Dergo amazing performance in the Redskins 28-21 win over Joliet Catholic in the Class 6A state quarterfinals. At last count, I was contacted by at least 15 different reporters from across the state and beyond asking that same damn question.

"Why isn't Dergo going to play college football?"

The bottom line is Dergo will have a chance to wrestle at the University of Illinois on a full ride scholarship. For those of you unfamiliar with wrestling on the college level, getting a full ride scholarship to anywhere is about as rare as it comes.

"From the standpoint of effecting and influencing a high school football game, John Dergo is the best I've ever seen." Dick Goss/Joliet Herald News Sports Editor

I found it really difficult to respond to those many reporter inquiries in regards to the lack of football recruiting action.

My first reaction was to tell these reporters to call every D-1 and D-1AA program and for them to ask those coaches instead.

My second reaction was simply to ignore the requests. Why make comment on a situation when Dergo was smack dab in the middle on a season for the ages. My God, can't people just let this kid and his head coach/Dad George just enjoy and the rest of us marvel in this kid's accomplishments?

Then again, you strike when the iron is hot and if it meant helping bring notice to this kid for his accomplishments on the field, why not? I gave in.

"What amazed me the most was the absolute intensity Dergo brought to every game. It reminded me of the ferocity a wrestler brings to a grudge match, and Dergo had that mean edge with every play. Because of that, you had the feeling he could break a long one at any given touch. Just call him ``Mr. November'' of high school football, coming up huge at the biggest moments. The 355 yards rushing, three TDs and two game-saving interceptions against Joliet Catholic was the best individual playoff performance I've seen in my 20 years of covering the high school game. Glenbrook North's Jon Scheyer and Crane's Sherron Collins will battle for the title of Mr. Basketball. If this state had a Mr. Football, his name would be John Dergo. Bob Sakomoto/Chicago Tribune Prep Writer

So how good was John Dergo in 2005?

You don't win this award for not being less than spectacular.

Years from now, I'll look back on the 2005 season and remember John Dergo.

Dergo simply had a season for the ages in 2005. Simple as that.

Make sure to check back soon for a in-depth one on one interview with John Dergo, including the awarding of the EDGYTIM/Rivals.com 2005 Offensive Player of the Year plaque.