Notre Dame College Prep seniors Peter Panagiotopoulos and Erik Couper have powered a historic football season for the Dons, setting multiple school records as the team prepares to host a quarterfinal playoff game.
The pair has connected for 18 touchdown receptions this season, a feat that has helped define the team’s successful campaign, according to Yahoo Sports.
Couper has thrown for more than 2,700 yards and 37 touchdowns, with half of those scoring passes directed to Panagiotopoulos.
Panagiotopoulos has caught 81 passes for 1,186 yards, establishing a new single-season receiving record for the school, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
Reflecting on their partnership, Couper noted the trust shared between the two longtime friends.
“I can always trust him on or off the field. If I throw it up, he’ll go catch it no matter what,” Couper said.
Notre Dame coach Mike DeFranza acknowledged the individual milestones but emphasized that the success is a collective effort from the entire roster.
“Both Eric and Peter have set school records, very impressive stats that they have, but they would be the first to say it’s a byproduct of their teammates,” DeFranza said.
Panagiotopoulos recently earned first-team all-state honors, becoming the first Notre Dame player to receive the recognition since 2018.
Couper also received honorable mention recognition for his performance throughout the season.
The team is now focused on the upcoming postseason challenge, as the Dons are set to host top-seeded Harlem in the Class 6A quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m.
This match marks the first time in nearly a decade that Notre Dame has hosted a quarterfinal playoff game.
Panagiotopoulos expressed that securing a victory at home would be particularly significant for the program.
“To win it in front of 400-500 people, it would mean a lot,” Panagiotopoulos said.
The players noted that the program has undergone a significant transformation since their freshman year, when the team missed the playoffs for three consecutive years.