I used to brag to my sons about what a great all-around football player I was in high school. I’d talk of my three career touchdowns, one as a receiver, one as a tight end and one on an interception return as a defensive tackle. And I’d talk about playing both ways, as well as doing the punting and kicking duties.

They’d roll their eyes because they knew I played for a school with a freshman-through-senior population of 147. It wasn’t greatness, it was necessity that I do all those things.

Alex Albrecht does a lot of things for North Boone, which is also a small school (although at 480, it’s not quite as small as mine.) But Albrecht does it because he’s talented, not out of necessity.

And that talent sparkled Friday night when he had a season’s worth of stats in one resounding 28-12 victory over Clinton, Wis.

Albrecht threw for 226 yards, rushed for 133 more, passed for one TD, returned a kickoff 82 yards for a second and returned an interception 85 yards for another.

He’ll certainly have a lot to brag about to his kids some day.

Stopping the deep route
Since my son played for Harlem last year, I saw every game. And I got to know the talent of the class below him, all of whom are seniors this season.

One thing that amazed me is that early in nearly every game in 2008, Harlem would run some misdirection or crossing route involving speedy wide receiver Tyler Cox, and every time it would result long TD and a quick 7-0 lead. I always wondered why teams didn’t give him a little more cushion to avoid getting burned deep.

Apparently Boylan figured it out. The Titans couldn’t stop the talented Cox from getting his catches — he had eight on Friday night. But his total yardage was 62, an average of 7.8 yards per catch. Last year as a junior, Cox averaged 24.8 yards per reception.

1-2 punch
Rockford Christian graduated one of the best quarterbacks in the area last year in Conrad Ognibene. But the Royals still have talent to burn at the skill positions.

After one week, RC boasts the top running back (Arthur Ford), the No. 2 receiver (Drake Grindle) and the No. 4 quarterback (Mason Crosby) in the area.

Ford’s 222 yards on 24 carries is 65 more than the No. 2 rusher. Grindle collected 141 yards on six catches, and Crosby racked up 168 yards passing on just nine completions (9-for-22).

The rest of the new Northeastern Athletic Conference better get its defense geared up.

Dominating defense
Hononegah made me look like a fool on Friday.

I predicted the Indians would lose to Belvidere North, my pick for the surprise team of the NIC-10.

As it was, Hononegah had plenty of surprises of its own, especially on defense.

The Blue Thunder are no slouches, coming off a playoff season with eight defensive starters back and three returning on the offensive line. That’s what makes Hononegah’s results so impressive.

Consider:

The Indians held North to 59 total yards of offense.

The Indians held North to two yards rushing total.

The Indians held North to just six first downs.

The Indians collected three interceptions.

All this makes for an even more intriguing NIC-10 season. And don’t forget... Hononegah plays host to Boylan in the season finale on Oct. 23.

-- Randy Ruef, rrstar.com