Recruit Roundup: Kinney secures win with red-zone pick-6 in final minute

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It was a great weekend for Northwestern's present and future. The Wildcats routed Western Illinois, 42-7, on Friday night, and their Class of 2026 put on a show across high school football.

Fifteen of Northwestern's 16 Class of 2026 commits took the field this week with everyone's season underway except for running back Sean Morris who is sitting out due to California transfer rules until Oct. 3.

Safety Davis Kinney is the headliner this week with a pick-6 to end what could have been a lead-changing drive with 40 seconds left in the game. Elsewhere in the class, quarterback Johnny O'Brien had his game in hand so early he only played 1.5 quarters, and offensive tackle Leighton Burbach paved the way for the final touchdown in a two-score, fourth-quarter comeback.

Read about them and more in this week's Recruit Roundup.

Safety Davis Kinney pounced on a pass in the red zone and took it all the way back for a touchdown to cement Richmond (Tex.) Fort Bend Travis' 27-16 win over Katy Jordan last week.

Fort Bend Travis (2-0) has a crosstown matchup this week with Richmond Randle. It will be a tough task: Randle is the defending Class 5A Division 2 state champions in Texas.

Linebacker Brayden Reilly and Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier posted their third straight stingy win, 24-6, over Indiana state power Indianapolis Cathedral.

The St. X defense has been locked in from the jump this season, allowing just 20 points total across their three matchups so far.

They expertly piloted their offense to a 55-6 victory over Buffalo Grove in a win so emphatic that O'Brien checked out for the second string halfway through the second quarter.

O'Brien was 16-for-22 for 197 yards and five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in his brief tenure and the Vikings picked up their second win of the season.

The Vikings have had a prolific start to their season, winning their opening pair by a combined score of 90-9. Fremd is ranked the No. 27 team in Illinois by Rivals.

Though Reinke is typically the feature of their offense, the North Stars got it done on the ground this game with 300 yards rushing. Reinke still made on impact on special teams with punt returns of 41 and 42 yards, per the Daily Herald.

Offensive tackle Leighton Burbach and Norfolk (Neb.) Catholic got in the win column with a 32-26 win over Boone Central last week.

After their 39-game winning streak was snapped in their season opener, the Knights were in danger of losing two in a row, down 20-9 going into the fourth quarter. With 6:03 left, they still trailed by two scores, 26-17.

But Burbach and the Knights ripped off a 23-6 fourth-quarter run that was helped in part by an overzealous, Scott Frostian decision by Boone Central to opt for an onside kick with that 26-17 lead. Norfolk recovered and marched down to score with 2:52 left.

Boone Central's next drive stalled out, and the Knights got the ball back at the 50. A few plays later, a "pancake block" by Burbach got Norfolk down to the 4 with 16 seconds left, per the Norfolk Daily News. They punched it in on the next play with Burbach (No. 55) leading the way.

Norfolk Catholic (1-1) plays at North Bend Central this week.

Interior offensive lineman Owen Fors and Barrington (Ill.) bullied their way to a big win last week, 35-21 over Arlington Heights Hersey.

Hersey has been a time on the rise in the Illinois ranks over the past few years, producing Northwestern wide receiver Carson Grove in the Class of 2024. But this year's squad was no match for the Broncos.

Fors and the offensive paved the way for 501 total yards of offense, with sophomore running back Lamar Osterhues rushing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. This was a statement win and Barrington is now ranked the No. 33 team in Illinois by Rivals.

Barrington (2-0) plays at No. 14 Glenbrook South this week.

It was a good season opener for wide receiver Jaden McDuffie and Edgewater (Md.) South River, as they picked up a 35-8 win over Randallstown.

In the X post below, McDuffie (No. 5) caught what looks like a 16-yard touchdown on a post route. You can see in the second clip (top right of the four), posted by South River's quarterback, Ben Raines.

It was a dominant win after a tight, one-point victory the week before over Klein Cain.

On top of smothering defense, Vaughn also made an impact on special teams with a 50-yard punt return into the Cypress Park red zone, and a blocked field goal after a bad snap that was scooped up and returned for a touchdown by a teammate.

Defensive end Nick Costa and Richland (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep pitched a shutout last week, blanking Paul VI in a 26-0 win.

Costa and the Hermits' defense have felt right at home this season, allowing just two touchdowns in two games.

Athlete Tom McGlinchey and Philadelphia (Penn.) William Penn Charter dropped a tight game with The Pennington School, 19-14.

Penn Charter (0-2) plays Blair Academy this week.

McGlinchey is being recruited by Northwestern at tight end.

Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick dominated their crosstown matchup with Oak Park River Forest, 35-0, as kicker Noah Sur was flawless with five made extra points.

It's been a tough pair of games for the Tigers, who have lost their last two games by 10 points combined.

Scioto leapt out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and Thomas Worthington's comeback could never quite overcome the early deficit.

Thomas Worthington (0-3) hosts Grove City this week.

It was a tough outing for safety Gabe Davis-Ray and Gahanna (Ohio) Columbus Academy. After a win and a loss by one score, the Vikings lost last week's matchup to Heath by a 34-7 margin.

Columbus Academy (1-2) plays at Dover this week.

Running back Sean Morris from Los Angeles (Calif.) Orange Lutheran has been designated a sit-out transfer by the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section and will sit out half of the Lancers' games, according to a report by the Orange County Register's Dan Albano. The CIF rules state that a player who transfers without moving must serve a one-time, sit-out period of half the season. Morris can make his debut on Oct. 3 vs. Mater Dei.