Thursday, November 1, 2007

Rosemeyer's knee gets a break

Gilman quarterback Trevor Rosemeyer certainly won't return to anywhere near full strength this season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in September, but the injured standout got a much-needed week of rest in preparation for the Pirates' game against Shell Lake (10-1) in the third round of the WIAA playoffs Saturday.

Rosemeyer practiced in pads Thursday for the first time since the Pirates (9-2) eliminated top-seeded Plum City 35-21 in the second round last weekend. Pirates coach Robin Rosemeyer said that Trevor did some running with the team earlier in the week, and he added that Trevor's knee was "as good as it could be" given the situation.

But, after all, he does have a torn ACL. Trevor completed 7 of 15 passes for 71 yards without a touchdown or an interception last Saturday. He started and led the offense until the Pirates, the defending state champs in Division 7, put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter. However, there's no question that he had little to offer in the way of mobility. He did scramble when pressured, but his hurt knee kept him from even flirting with the corner on a run.

Whatever Trevor can't offer his team with only one good knee, though, he makes up for with his leadership and knowledge of the offense. Robin said that "things just go a little bit smoother" when Trevor's under center, and the results evidence that. The Pirates' back-to-back losses -- Chippewa Falls McDonell and Owen-Withee -- were sans their starting quarterback.

With Trevor's big-play ability missing in action, the Pirates looked to running backs Matt Rudnick and Dustan Zach to carry the burden. And they just did just that, combining for 288 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Robin hopes his team can become more balanced offensively, but expect to see more of Rudnick and Zach if his plan doesn't come to fruition.

-- Justin Harings

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