Palatine's Bobbit expected back this season

Palatine junior quarterback Cody Bobbit didn't want to come out of Friday's game at Schaumburg despite an injury to his left shoulder.

If that's any indication, Bobbit won't be out of action for long after suffering what coach Tyler Donnelly said was a Type 1 or II AC separation to his non-throwing shoulder.

Donnelly said Bobbit is definitely out for Friday's homecoming game with Hoffman Estates but could return as early as Oct. 9 against Barrington. The Pirates (4-1) were off to their best start since 1997 before losing 28-21 at Schaumburg.

"We'll have to wait and see," Donnelly said of the length of Bobbit's absence. "It looks like he'll be fine. I'd be shocked if he was done for the season because it's not that type of injury.

"He has to be healthy enough where if he gets tackled it's not a season-ending injury."

Bobbit, who was hurt in the first quarter, has completed 72.2 percent of his passes (70-for-97) for 883 yards with 9 touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 232 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Junior Jim Smearman came in and went 9-for-18 for 146 yards and a TD and rushed for 61 yards and a TD. The starting linebacker was also the sophomore starting quarterback last year with Bobbit playing wide receiver for the varsity.

"Cody and him are best friends and Cody is coaching him right now," Donnelly said. "He has a real strong arm and stands in the pocket well and he's a real good runner. It's not like there's a huge dropoff - just a dropoff in the sense he hasn't had as many reps as Cody."

Smearman will continue to play linebacker and will be re-joined this week by senior Phil Brand, who missed last week with a sprained neck suffered in practice.

Donnelly was happy with how the Pirates responded to losing Bobbit at Schaumburg by twice getting within a touchdown in the second half.

"I would have been very disappointed if the kids didn't respond in the second half," Donnelly said. "Defensively we played really well in the second half except for the one bubble screen (for a 67-yard TD). There were a lot of positives."

Correction: Eddie Solorio caught a 25-yard touchdown pass Friday night for Elk Grove in its win over Wheeling.