No Josh-ing, Walker leads Jacobs past Dundee-Crown with 5 TDs

Josh Walker took the draw, looked to his right and saw nothing but defenders. The Jacobs running back tried to dart back to the middle, but a group of white Dundee-Crown jerseys were there as well.

After a spin move got him nowhere, Walker again ran right and saw one more defender. Going back to the spin, the Golden Eagles completely turned around the obstruction in his path, giving him a wide-open sideline to sprint down.

Seventy-one yards later, Walker had a jaw-dropping touchdown — his fifth of the game — and the explanation point in a 56-16 Fox Valley Valley win on Jacobs’ home field Friday night.

“I mean, I love playing ‘Madden’ and I see those moves in the video game,” Walker said. “I told myself that I have to do those moves in a real game, and that’s what I was trying to do.”

The highlight run was the final carry on an all-around terrific night for the senior. Walker finished with 172 yards rushing and four TDs on just 10 carries, along with 44 yards and another score on three receptions.

Walker said his strong play has started to create interest from Division I programs.

He was not the only offensive star for the Golden Eagles (4-1, 1-0). Sophomore quarterback Chris Katrenick was efficient under center, going 11-for-14 for 196 yards and three TDs. Katrenick completed his first nine passes, allowing Jacobs to jump out quickly. The team scored 21 points in the game’s first five minutes.

“It’s great to have receivers make plays like that, taking a five-yard pass and turning it in to something crazy,” Katrenick said. “I wasn’t too surprised (at the fast start), because I know we are capable of that. I thought we played well.”

Along with Walker, the rest of Jacobs’ skill-position players performed well. Junior running back Sean Barnes gained 73 yards on six carries, adding a 40-yard TD. Wide receiver Camden McLain was a major factor, with 114 yards receiving, including a 65-yard TD pass from Katrenick.

Dundee-Crown (2-3, 0-1) kept it close for a while. Running back Malik Dunner had a 64-yard TD run in the first quarter to give the Chargers’ offense some life, while quarterback Jeff Atherton had a strong first half.

After the break, however, the Jacobs’ defense clamped down. Dundee-Crown crossed midfield for just one play in the second half, as the Golden Eagles secondary closed off the Chargers’ passing game. In the middle of much of the action was Walker, who along with playing running back was also a factor at safety, deflecting several passes in the victory.