Brinlee breaks Bears rushing record in 'W'

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:12PM

Lake Zurich senior John Mularz took out some frustration on unsuspecting Jacobs on Saturday.

Mularz had missed four weeks earlier in this season after suffering a minor MCL tear before the team's Week 4 contest. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound running back also sat out the regular-season finale after re-injuring the knee in practice.

But Mularz made up for his lost time by pounding out 143 bruising yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries to help the Bears roll to a 41-7 victory over the visiting Eagles in the IHSA Class 7A first round.

"It felt so great," Mularz said. "I've missed it. This is just the best feeling."

No. 5 Lake Zurich (9-1) advanced to play either No. 4 Prospect (8-1) or No. 13 Rockford Guilford (6-3) in the second round next weekend.

Senior standout Jacob Brinlee set the tone for the Bears' 34-point first half by taking the opening kickoff and ran it back 77 yards for the touchdown.

Brinlee, who rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, became Lake Zurich's all-time leading rusher when he surpassed the 3,000-mark for his career in the third quarter.

Jacobs (6-4) appeared to get back into the contest after senior John McMahon recovered a Brinlee fumble late in the first quarter.

The Eagles cashed in by marching 51 yards in 11 plays on their ensuing drive to get within seven points on a 1-yard TD plunge by junior running back Kyle Wright.

v"The opening kickoff was tough, but we were able to drive down and make it 14-7," Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. "But when you give them the short field, they're going to make you pay. They're a good team."

Jacobs just couldn't seem to hold down Lake Zurich's dynamic rushing attack with Mularz, Brinlee and junior QB Zach Till (eight carries, 111 yards, TD). Junior RB Mike Rantis (seven carries, 19 yards, TD) added a two-yard TD run in the third quarter to cap the scoring for the Bears.

Senior Kiah McGee recorded two sacks before leaving the contest with an ankle injury. Senior JJ Raffelson and junior William Hussey also had sacks for the Lake Zurich defense.

The Bears held Jacobs' dangerous rushing tandem of Kyle Wright (12 carries, 51 yards, TD) and Caz Zyks (20 carries, 48 yards) to less than 100 yards on the ground.

Mitz, who endured many battles with the Bears in the NSC during his long run as Stevenson's head coach, made an immediate impact in his first season at Jacobs by guiding the program to its first playoff appearance since 2006.

"It's nice to get here, but you just can't be happy getting here," the coach said. "In the offseason, we'll get these kids lifting (weights) and doing the things we want them to do. Hopefully we'll be back here."

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