Brinlee puts on first-half show

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:14PM

It wouldn't take a coach like Bill Walsh or Sean Payton to figure out an effective offensive strategy for No. 5 Lake Zurich. Anyone who watches the team could make the gameplan: Give the ball to Jacob Brinlee and get out of the way.

The star running back had a first half for the record books on Thursday night at Zion-Benton, rushing for 147 yards on five carries, scoring touchdowns on all but one of those attempts, leading the Bears to a 45-0 win in their North Suburban Lake opener. Brinlee played only mid-way through the second quarter, but that didn't stop him from tying a school record with the four-touchdown performance.

"The offensive line did a great job, and when they do there job it makes my job a lot easier," Brinlee said. "The holes were that big, they did a great job and I just found the holes."

Brinlee got going early for Lake Zurich (4-0, 1-0), taking a pitch 22 yards to the house just four minutes into the game. Less than five minutes later, it was from 27 yards out, as the Bears controlled the clock and the game from the start. In the second quarter, he took a handoff 74 yards untouched down the sideline, the entire Zee-Bees defense trailing him. He added a 12-yard run with seven minutes remaining before halftime for good measure, his last rush of the game.

"Hopefully it helps us, hopefully it keeps people fresh and rested," Brinlee said about sitting out much of the game.

Mike Sheild (six yards) and Zach Johnson (12 yards) added touchdown runs for the Bears.

The Zee-Bees fell to 0-4 on the season.

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