Flyers' Horejsi handles heavy workload

Winning cures everything.

Just ask Zach Horejsi, who didn't feel the effects of running the football 35 times, plus, playing defense until after the Little Falls Flyers defeated the Rocori Spartans 16-7 Sept. 11.

Horejsi rushed for 234 yards and a touchdown to help the Flyers win their first game since Oct. 13, 2006. The junior also had three tackles and an interception.

Zach Horejsi

Year: Junior

School: Little Falls

Sport: Football

Position: Running back, strong safety

Key stat: Rushed 35 times for 234 yards and a touchdown

"The most remarkable stat might be that he played every snap except for 11 plays," said Flyers head coach Aaron Sinclair. "For us to be successful we have to have our best kids play as much as they can. Zach has been real solid for us."

Sinclair said the game plan was to control the time of possession. The blocking of Collin Swanson, Dustin York and Ken Rodeski paved the way for Horejsi's big game.

"All we wanted to do was prove that we could play football and we played really well," said Horejsi. "I wasn't thinking I was going to get the ball 30 times, but I was going to run the ball as many times as they needed me to."

Horejsi said it was worth it after the Little Falls snapped its 21-game losing streak

"You could feel kind of that weight lifted off our back," said Horejsi. "Now we can play the rest of the season the way we know how to play."

On the season, Horejsi has 310 yards on 39 carries for a 7.9 yards-per-carry average with two touchdowns. He's already surpassed his totals from last season when he was promoted to varsity halfway through the season. In five games last year he rushed for 247 yards and four touchdowns on 65 carries.

He also had seven tackles. He has six so far this year.

"You don't notice him on defense, and the fact that he's in the secondary, that's a good thing," said Sinclair. "He had a nice interception. The ball was tipped and he picked it off. He did play well defensively, especially against Rocori, which runs four and sometimes five wideouts. Our whole defense played really well."

Sinclair credited Horejsi's build and athleticism for being able to handle the work load. Horejsi said the fact his team was winning helped.

"Normally you feel it when you get a little beat up, but I didn't feel anything until the end," said Horejsi. "Once the game was over my body was like, 'OK, now you need to go rest.' The adrenaline was going. I didn't realize how many times I carried the ball until afterward. The win took care of all that."

Other notable performances:

Cross country: Silas Lydeen, Pequot Lakes, won the Wildwedge Invite in 18:10.

Football: Alex Jansson, Staples-Motley, rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns against West Central.

Amos Schmidt, Verndale, rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns against Underwood.

Zack Meidinger rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns against Underwood.

Jordan Hunstad, Pillager, threw for 210 yards and a touchdown against Upsala/Swanville Area.

Nathan Hudrlik, Crosby-Ironton, rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown against Deer River.

Mark Hoge, Crosby-Ironton, caught four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns against Deer River.

Soccer: Young Kim, Lake Region, scored three goals against Maplewood Academy.

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.