Bears' walking wounded keep going

Jon Janus, who's suffered apparent season-ending injuries on two occasions this season, ran with reckless abandon.

Lake Zurich's star running back always does. Bad knee, worse shoulder, it doesn't matter.

Among the guys who blocked for Janus on Saturday night was Dylan Becker. He, too, suffered one of those apparent season-ending-injury things.

Funny thing is, the football season is never-ending for the banged-up Bears.

When Lake Zurich plays Wheaton Warrenville South in the Class 7A state championship game this Saturday in Champaign, unless you see a Bears player in a body cast or neck brace, assume he's playing.

Janus -- who made LZ fans cringe in Week 7 when he hurt his knee against Wauconda and then made them wince when he fell hard on his shoulder in Round 2 of the playoffs against Rolling Meadows -- is remarkably still playing at a high level.

Fellow running back Adam Simpson also has been playing hurt and recently credited Lake Zurich's athletic trainers for helping him get back on the field.

Saturday night at Carmel Catholic, after Lake Zurich clinched its second state title-game berth in as many years with a 17-7 win, it was Becker's turn to credit athletic trainers Mike Klobnak and Rachel Colvin.

"Our trainers are doing a really good job," said Becker, mentioning Klobnak and Colvin by name.

Becker's season ended in Week 8 against Lake Forest -- supposedly -- when he tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

The senior right guard was told his chances of returning to the football field this season were "slim." There was a chance, he was also told, that if the Bears got to the state title game, he might get on the field.

"It's a grade-three tear," Becker said. "It's the worst I could have tore it."

Saturday night was his second straight start.

"I figured I was (done for the season)," said Becker, who wears a bulky brace to protect his knee. "But I stayed positive during rehab and worked it real hard. It's just great to be back."

His O-line buddies are thrilled Becker's back.

"That was just a huge blow to the team (when he hurt his knee) because he's been such a leader throughout the year," left guard John Gage said. "To see him come back is just a huge boost to the team. Everybody's excited."

Becker isn't going to kid anyone. He's still hurting.

"It's still torn," he said of the MCL, which won't require surgery. "It got twisted up tonight, but it's feeling all right. … The brace is helping a lot. I'm just icing (the knee) every day, heating it before practice.

"I'm just playing through the pain," Becker added. "Any pain that comes, you just got to play through it. We got one more game."

Carmel gave Lake Zurich one heck of a game. But the Bears came through, thanks in part to the offensive line of Becker, Gage, center Chris Blair, right tackle Tyler Uhl and left tackle Steve Midday. Simpson had a 26-yard touchdown run, and Janus busted off a school-record 98-yard TD.

"They were really strong up front," Gage said of the Corsairs. "They closed up all the gaps really well, but it was the little seams that we were able to break through that kind of made the game."

Becker started at center for the Bears last season. Now he gets another chance to help them win their first-ever state championship. Rest assured, he appreciates the opportunity.

"I think we want it more (compared to last year)," Becker said. "After what happened last year in the state championship game (a 35-21 loss to St. Rita), it lights a fire under you. We're ready to get it done."

That's a determined kid, one who never believed he was done.