Vernon Hills will miss Freibrun

Vernon Hills’ football team will be without starting quarterback Jordan Freibrun for the next month, and maybe longer.

Coach Bill Bellecomo said Freibrun suffered a broken fibula when he was tackled during the fourth quarter of the Cougars’ season-opening, 25-10 loss to visiting DeKalb last Friday night. The good news is, the injury might not be season-ending.

“He had a 22-yard run and there was one guy left to catch him,” Bellecomo said. “(The defender) grabbed him by the back of the shoulders and his whole body fell on the back of his leg when he was kind of in full stride.”

Freibrun did not require surgery.

“(The doctor) said 4-6 weeks, and it’s going to heal cleanly,” Bellecomo said. “Obviously, being a senior, he’s upset. He worked hard to get where he was this year.”

While Freibrun didn’t start at QB last season, the Cougars had a “pistol” package for him. Freibrun is fast and athletic.

“We changed our offense this year to kind of suit him,” Bellecomo said.

Connor McNamara, the son of Stevenson football coach Bill McNamara, will start in Freibrun’s place against host Grayslake Central tonight. The sophomore brings many of the same attributes that Freibrun does.

“Connor’s looked good in practice,” Bellecomo said. “I think he’s ready. He’s excited. I know he’s been watching some film with his dad.”

Freibrun has been on crutches at practice this week, helping out McNamara and the offense as much as he can.

“Knowing Jordan’s character, he’s going to rush himself back,” Bellecomo said. “I’ve been working with his parents. We really got to keep an eye on him. because he’s itching to get back.”