If Eric Lins toils in obscurity, it’s only because St. Charles North’s passing attack casts a big shadow.
With Zach Mettetal throwing for 23 touchdowns and 1,777 yards, it’s easy to overlook the ground game.
Lins, a senior running back, leads the North Stars (9-1) in rushing with 935 yards entering a 1 p.m. game Saturday at Rockford Auburn (9-1) in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs.
“Eric is just one of those klds who surprises a lot of teams because he’s as good as he is and we just don’t use him as much,” St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak said. “But on any other team giving him a lot more carries, he’d be a 1,500- or 2,000-yard runner.
“He’s that combination of speed as well as brute force.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound Lins is big for a high school back. Pomazak goes so far as to give Lins the nod for team MVP, along with guard/defensive tackle Sam Ambrogio.
“It would be a toss-up,” Pomazak said. “Eric is going be a 1,000-yard rusher, starts at safety and never comes off the field.”
If Lins is overshadowed on offense, he doesn’t mind. Defense has his heart.
“I love playing on defense,” Lins said. “Ever since I was little, I’ve been more of a defensive player. I’m that downhill safety who goes into the box for the tackle.”
Lins scored TDs from both positions in Saturday’s heart-stopping 31-24 playoff win over Carmel in double overtime. He had a 35-yard TD on a fumble return and 4-yard TD run, both tying the score.
Lins led the North Stars in tackles against Carmel with 13, and his open-field tackling against Rockford Auburn is likely to be critical.
“Auburn is like lightning in a bottle,” Pomazak said. “They’re very big up front but have so much speed that they are always breaking big runs. You have to limit their big plays.
“It’s going to be on us to pursue well and tackle well.”
Lins has another role he takes seriously. As a senior leader taking young players under his wing, he hopes he’s paying it forward for future success.
It includes working with sophomore cornerback/receiver Tyler Nubin. Last week, Nubin caught the game-winning TD pass, and he has a team-high three interceptions.
“We don’t even think of him as a sophomore now,” Lins said. “When he’s a senior, he’s going to be something special. I’ve been lucky enough to almost mentor him in a way.”
Closers: Defensive line is Huntley’s greatest strength, so it was appropriate when Tony Bucaro, Caleb Jones and Illinois recruit Olalere Oladipo sacked Stevenson quarterback Aidan O’Connell on three straight plays to close out last week’s 21-20 victory in the 8A playoffs.
“The last three plays against Stevenson, we just took over and made that game ours,” said Jones, who has a team-high nine sacks this season.
Huntley (7-3) will do more pass rushing in Saturday’s second-round game at 1 p.m. against Fremd (7-3). Vikings quarterback Tom Josten has passed for 1,775 yards. Fremd is the 25th seed and Huntley the 24th.
“I think a lot of people are surprised to see us playing each other because we were both the underdogs, by seed, quiite a bit in our games last week,” Huntley coach Matt Zimolzak said.
MVP: St. Charles East quarterback Zach Mitchell was voted offensive player of the year in the Upstate Eight River by coaches. It was based largely on his running and ability to handle the ball in the option.
“He’s playing at an All-State level,” Saints coach Bryce Farquhar said.
In the first round of the 8A playoffs against Lockport, Mitchell showed he can throw deep as well in a 45-0 victory. He may need to throw more for St. Charles East (10-0) against New Trier (8-2) at 7 p.m. Friday in the second round.
“We know when we have to pass it has to be a completion because we don’t get to throw it as often,” Mitchell said.
Twitter @genechamberlai2
