Brooks has been pleasant surprise for Dundee-Crown

Were one to hazard a guess before the season started as to Dundee-Crown's most consistent tailback through 2 games, it's unlikely the name Brandon Brooks would have leapt off the tongue.

Nevertheless, Brooks, also a starting linebacker, has been a steadying influence in the offensive backfield during D-C's 2-0 start.

The senior helped salt away a 36-22 win at Elgin in the season opener with a 19-yard touchdown in the second half, part of an 85-yard, 13-carry performance.

Last week in a 41-39 victory against Streamwood, Brooks spotlighted D-C's tailback depth by carrying the load after veteran running backs Malik Dunner and Caleb Parson left the game with ankle injuries. Dunner, a Ball State commit, was hurt on the first play from scrimmage. Parson left in the second half.

Brooks took over as the featured back and rushed for 97 yards and on 18 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the third quarter that gave the Chargers a 34-33 lead.

Overall, the team's third running back has some pretty impressive numbers: 182 yards and 2 touchdowns in 31 attempts.

“Brandon Brooks has played his tail off,” Dundee-Crown coach Mike Steinhaus said. “In the last 2 games he came in in the second half or fourth quarter and ran for almost 100 yards in both of those games. He's done a great job. He's one of those ultimate team players.”

The Chargers (2-0) won't know until game time on Friday at Morris whether or not Dunner and Parson can play. Both have been limited in practice this week.

“It feels better, but we'll see,” Dunner said as he left the locker room after Tuesday's practice. “I hope to be able to go.”

Both Dunner and Parson are game-time decisions, Steinhaus said.

Another Charger playing well on both sides of the ball is receiver/defensive back Kiwaun “Kiwi” Seals. The senior demonstrated his dynamic playmaking ability with an 88-yard kickoff return to open the season, and his team-high 13 receptions and 121 yards include touchdowns last week of 39 and 14 yards from quarterback Jeff Atherton.

Just as importantly, Seals filled in for Dunner at safety last week and came up with a key interception.

“He's playing well on the offensive side and he goes in defensively with Malik hurt and makes a big pick,” Steinhaus said. “He has really stepped up for us.”

No. 1 clip: It's a good thing high school sophomores generally have boundless energy because St. Edward tailback Dwayne Allen needed everything in his tank to complete a zigzagging, 61-yard touchdown run against Chicago Clark last Friday.

Allen initially took the ball on a handoff to the right, but he ran into traffic and doubled back toward the opposite sideline. About to be headed off by two pursuers before he could turn the corner, he reversed course again, slipped both tacklers and bolted into the clear for a touchdown.

He can be seen near the end of the 21-second play running away from several out-of-breath Clark players. Allen was running on empty, too.

“I was really tired,” he said Wednesday. “It made it even worse that everyone came and jumped on me. But during the play I knew I had to find a way to get into the end zone.”

A sight to behold, the unusual scoring play was named the top highlight of Week 2 by HUDL.com. The clip can be seen at: <URL destination="http://get.hudl.com/topfive/week2/?utm_source=public&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=week2. ">http://get.hudl.com/topfive/week2/?utm_source=public&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=week2.

</URL>The blue blur: Cary-Grove, the No. 1 team in Class 7A, limited No. 3 Lake Zurich to 148 total yards in a 24-7 road win last week. The Bears were held to 50 yards rushing in 18 attempts.

Beyond the schemes of veteran defensive coordinator Don Sutherland, there was a reason the Cary-Grove defense was so stifling.

“It's one of the fastest groups we've had,” Trojans coach Brad Seaburg said. “Going just by 40 (-yard dash) times, it is the fastest we've had. We have a lot of guys with speed.”

Jake and Tommy: The fact that St. Edward senior Jake LaFrenz recently committed to play Division I baseball at Coastal Carolina University near Myrtle Beach, SC. less than three months removed from elbow surgery is a testament to the effectiveness of the Tommy John procedure, which the late Dr. Frank Jobe first performed in 1974.

A left-hander who throws from a three-quarter arm slot, LaFrenz has been one of St. Edward's top pitchers since he arrived on the varsity scene as a freshman. Last season's 0-5 record doesn't reflect how well he pitched. He finished his junior season with a 2.21 ERA, struck out 67, walked 22 and allowed 32 hits and 12 earned runs in 38 innings.

Thanks to his personal coach, R.C. Lichtenstein, also the pitching coach for Tampa Bay Rays Class AA affiliate in Birmingham, LaFrenz connected with Coastal Carolina pitching coach Drew Thomas, who was looking for a left-hander. Video was sent to Thomas, who liked what he saw, according to LaFrenz. They stayed in touch.

However, while LaFrenz was pitching at an event for scouts from Valparaiso and Pittsburgh in Lemont on June 1, which happened to be LaFrenz's birthday, the Elgin resident tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left arm.

He underwent Tommy John surgery on June 25, performed by well-known orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Cole of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, the same surgeon who performed the ACL replacement of Bulls guard Derrick Rose.

LaFrenz visited the Conway, SC. campus over Labor Day and loved what he saw. Undeterred by LaFrenz's Tommy John surgery, the Chanticleers coaching staff offered him a roster spot and the chance to play his way into a partial scholarship based on his first-year performance.

“They said they don't see me as a walk-on guy. Before I got injured they said they there was a scholarship with my name on it,” LaFrenz said. “I'm excited. It's nice to have the opportunity to play Division I baseball. I love the game of baseball so much. I want to be a college coach or general manager someday. I can't see myself in anything else but baseball.”

LaFrenz will start throwing again on Oct. 25 with an eye toward being back at full strength by July 10, 2015, when he reports to Coastal Carolina. He said he hopes to take the mound for the Green Wave next spring, but that decision won't be made until spring.

“Nothing is certain as of now,” he said, “but the plan is to pitch a limited amount.”