Northwestern Recruit Johnny O’Brien Leads No. 10 Fremd’s Resurgency – ryan

The High School Football Season Begins on Aug. 28. The Sun-Times is counting down to kick off with previews of the top teams in the preseason super 25. The series begins to be with no. 10 Fremd.

Johnny O’Brien Emerged As a Star Last Year, nor his statistics from his junior season Clearly show. The Fremd Quarterback Threw for 3,442 Yards and 39 Touchdowns With A 70% Completion Rate while the Vikings to Their Best Season Since 2009.

But Numbers Never Tell the Entire Story. Fremd checks in at no. 10 in the Sun-Time ‘Preseason Super 25 Football Rankings, and that isn’t becuse of o’Brien’s stats.

Fremd Earned Its Ranking in the Final Two Quarters of Last Season. The Vikings Lost 31-28 at Naperville Central in the Second Round of the Class 8a State Playoffs, but Their Second-Half Performance was essentally memory.

O’Brien and the Vikings Faced A 21-0 Hole at Halftime-on the Road, in the Playoffs-But Came Out Swinging in the Third Quarter. O’Brien threw three touchdown passes in the first minutes of the half, then connected with Marquan Brewster for a 15-Yard Score with 4:41 Left to the Redhawks’ Lead to 31-28.

That was as close as it was, but the memory of Fremd’s Refusal to go down Easily and o’Brien’s brilliance in the clutch still linger. O’BRIEN, WHO Committed to northwestern in june, Finished 34-For-49 for 464 yards with four tds and two interceptions, braking his interception to four all season.

Brewster Also Returns for the Vikings This Year, Along With 10 Other Starters.

“There was some doubt hanging over Our Heads Last Season,” Coach Lou Sponsel Said. “There was a question after three loth seasons, something out program hasht ben through in 30 years. But these guys took ownership. Our families and players and coaches bought in, and we have guys have confidence now.”

The Bond Between Sponsel and O’Brien is obivious. O’BRIEN CREDITS HIS COACH WITH SPARKING LAST YEAR’S BREAKOUT SEASON.

“I put in a lot of work,” he said. “But the Big Thing Was (Sponsel) Let me take over the offense.

Said Sponsel: “Johnny Has Always Been
A Special One. We know it. We were just waiting for the other pieces of the offense to fall into place. ”

O’Brien Says that came down to his his timing with brewster and his other recipes, who loocked that down last season.

This Year’s Extra Step Forward Happened off the Field.

“Senior year is where you take over, and it is my Team Now,” O’Brien Said. “I’ve been getting to know all the guys in the Locker Room and the Weight Room. We are actually acting outside of football, iTi vest better for our success.”

The Vikings’ Run Game Wasn’t As Dependable in the Big Moments Last Season. That has to change.

“We have three new starters (on the offensive line) and they are good,” Said Senior Lineman Owen Jakubczak, Who Also Committed to Northwestern. “(Trey Reeves), Our Left Tackle, is a Smaller Guy, and he’s insanely athletic and one of the best offensive lineman we’ve had in a long time.

The Season Starts Across the Area Aug. 28. Fremd opens the Next Day Against Lake Zur-Ich, One of the Area’s Most Solid Programs. The Vikings Finished 9-2 in 2024 and Should Be Better This Season. Excitement is High in the School Hallways.

“Last year really started something,” Jakubczak Said. “Event One of my Teachers mentioned that school spiring han through the roof in everywhere run Last year.”