We live in a world enamored by numbers, whether the topic is the stock market's rise or fall, how many touchdowns or interceptions the Bears' Jay Cutler has thrown or how many years since the Cubs last won the World Series.

Bill Scheibe: He trained during the offseason, a cold and bitter winter followed by a warm and soothing summer, to be Minooka's quarterback. Mitch Brozovich, the junior achiever and heir apparent, was supposed to be shelved by labrum shoulder surgery. That didn't happen, so deep safety Corey Krakowski went back to being the quarterback of the defense.

Bill Scheibe: Isolated on an island at cornerback, and staring straight into the facemask of 6-foot-2, 215-pound fullback Jim Benson being split wide, Wilmington senior Justin Gruca transformed into Just(in) Time Gruca.

Please forgive, if you can, Plainfield North middle linebacker Matt Meyers for the first two letters of his last name. It is one of those few times he ever will be associated with, or even mention, the objective pronoun of "me."

After winning state titles as the defensive coordinator at both Providence Catholic and Lockport, George Czart became Lincoln-Way North's first head coach for the 2008 season, then compiled his depth chart. In consultation with the Lincoln-Way East coaching staff, Czart started a star search. He called the concept "crushing," but Czart identified the program's No. 1 athlete and made him the Phoenix quarterback.
Quarterback Tait Erikson helps lead Lincoln-Way North's 'amazing' ride from worst to first -- times two

Bill Scheibe: In a cramped storage shed underneath the Plainfield Central visitors' bleachers, offensive coordinator Frank Yudzentis stepped into the middle of the team's postgame circle and captured Minooka's moment perfectly Friday.

Fifteen times, Wilmington junior Jeremy Bailey has reached the end zone this year. The sturdy 5-foot-9, 196-pound wingback/outside linebacker has scored 15 touchdowns through rushes, another on a pass reception and, finally, the capper on a fumble return.

Bill Scheibe: Helmets are worn in football for various reasons, including the players' safety and protection. Coal City defensive end Kyle Krause came up with another application during the fourth quarter Friday.

Reed-Custer on a roll after senior switch Throwback uniforms and NFL games with "Turn Back the Clock" themes are all the rage. To hear Reed-Custer coach Dean Cappel tell it, Jim Benson would fit right into that mode, except he might show up wearing an old-school leather helmet.

Let's first go back two weeks ago to Providence Catholic's 42-7 victory over Fenwick at Matt Senffner Field. Junior quarterback Joey Houlihan answered the immortal question, "Oh, brother, where art thou now?" Pete Houlihan was simply everywhere. He returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown, snapping a 7-7 tie. Eleven seconds into the second quarter, he returned another interception for a second score.

On the first play from scrimmage to start the second half Friday night, Lincoln-Way East senior wingback Kevin Starke sliced between the Bolingbrook linebackers and sped right through the pair of safeties. And the race was on.

Running backs, quarterbacks and linebackers get all the glory. Offensive tackles like Kenny Smith and defensive ends like Brandon Babic, Minooka's in-the-trenches senior tandem, tend to be as underappreciated as that turn signal in your car.