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Sports

Falcon Running Back's Stock Rising Sharp-ly

Junior Patrick Sharp is fast becoming one of the DuPage Valley Conference's premier backs.

Wheaton North’s Patrick Sharp is a soft-spoken young man, much like his namesake on the Chicago Blackhawks.

And like the Hawks forward, the Falcons’ running back lets his performance on game night do the talking.

The speedy 5-foot-9, 170-pound junior averaged just over 135 yards per game in ’s first three 2011 contests.

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Sharp broke out of the gate in the Falcons’ season-opening win over Bartlett, gaining 170 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He nearly reached the century mark vs. Geneva (a 33-24 loss), but roared back with a touchdown and 140 yards during Week 3’s 24-13 victory at Naperville North.

Even though he compiled eye brow-raising totals during the Falcons’ 2011 debut, Sharp points to the Naperville North game as one where everything clicked.

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“The line was doing a great job,” he said. “I just followed everybody and it worked out”

O-line doing the job

With a starting O-line that averages 235 pounds, Wheaton North doesn’t blow opposing defensive linemen off the ball. Returning starter Ian Kile is the Falcons’ biggest lineman at 270 pounds. Wheaton North’s other returnees, Christian Hollinger and Landon Bruni, are listed at 220 and 210 pounds, respectively. Mike Weinberg (220) and Chris Cigoy (250) round out the starting five.

“We worked hard this offseason,” said Bruni, a senior. “We’re kind of a smaller offensive line, but we definitely make up for it with our speed and moving our legs really well.”

What took place last week during the team’s 28-6 win against West Chicago is a testament to the line’s effectiveness. Sharp missed the matchup after he sprained his right ankle toward the end of the Naperville North game. (He’s listed as questionable for Wheaton North’s home date with Glenbard East Friday night, but should be ready to go next weekend.)

However, Sharp’s replacement, Mikey Sammer, scored three touchdowns and compiled over 100 yards rushing.

“They’re great,” Sharp said. “They’re always doing their job and working hard. They’re really hard workers.”

Sharp’s stock rising

Ankle problems notwithstanding, Sharp is fast becoming one of the DuPage Valley Conference’s premier backs. And that’s saying something in a league loaded with elite runners.

“The Randolph kid over at Naperville Central () is very good,” Wheaton North head coach Joe Wardynski said. “(Dan) Vitale at Wheaton South is very good and the Jackson kid up at Glenbard North (Phil Jackson)—those are all outstanding running backs in our conference. So just for him to be mentioned in that group is great.”

Vitale has already committed to Northwestern, while Randolph and Jackson are drawing interest from Division I schools. Look for Sharp’s stock to rise among college recruiters between now and the end of his senior year.

“I’d really like to be play college football,” Sharp said. “I’m just seeing what comes around.”

“I think it’s a possibility,” Wardynski added. “He’s got the straight-ahead speed that schools are looking for. He’s going to have a hard time being an every-down back at a big program just based on his size, but there’s kids that grow from sophomore, junior, senior year in high school.

“If he can continue to get a little bit bigger, get up to maybe 185, 190 pounds, I think he’ll give himself a chance.”

Wardynski brought Sharp up to the varsity as a sophomore last season basically out of necessity.

“We didn’t really have a junior or a senior tailback that we felt comfortable with,” he explained. “He probably got pulled up quicker than he probably should have. But we respected the fact that he was willing to do that for the program and come up.”

Weight-room warrior

Sharp ran for 441 yards and six touchdowns in 2010 for Wheaton North, which made its second consecutive Class 7A playoff appearance. Hard-earned yards and TDs, at that.

“Physically he probably wasn’t ready for it,” Wardynski said. “He was kind of light and took a pounding, but I respect what he did for the program.”

Sharp came prepared this fall. He hit the weight room last spring while a member of the Falcons’ state-qualifying 4x100-meter relay team (which included Sammer) and continued to do so throughout the summer.

The Falcons are reaping the benefits of Sharp’s commitment.

“Physically, his body is more prepared to play varsity football this year as compared to last year,” Wardynski said. “But in terms of his game on the field, he’s seeing his blocks better. He’s able to see where the blocks are coming from. I think last year he was just ‘Get the ball; run to the hole.’ But this year I think he’s seeing the field a little better and seeing his blocks.

“The other big thing is he’s able to finish runs, and I think that’s related to his strength and a little more size this year. He’s running through some tackles.”

Sharp’s ability to drive forward after taking the initial hit is an aspect of his game that Bruni has noticed, as well.

“He’s a really hard runner and he definitely works hard,” Bruni said. “He moves his feet really well. He hits a hole hard, and we just block for him and he gets through there. Once he makes contact, he keeps pushing his feet and breaks a lot of tackles for us.”

Once Sharp returns to action, he’s got his mind set on breaking more tackles and helping the Falcons win what would be their first DVC title since 2002.

“We always want to win the DVC every year,” he said. “We’re working toward that.”

After that?

“I see us definitely making a good playoff impression,” Bruni said. “I think we can be a team that pushes it and gives a lot of teams a good run. I think we can make it far, and we look pretty good out there.”

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