Fremd's Muehfeldt thrives without glamor

Dan Muehfeldt has experienced the glory enjoyed by successful running backs.

The Fremd senior said when he was in the seventh grade, he said he found the end zone five or six times.

So is there any chance to recapture those thrills since he was added to the offensive mix this year as a blocking back for Justin Wallace?

Muehfeldt knows the answer.

“Justin said he was going to tell the coaches if we get up they need to get me a carry,” Muehfeldt said with a laugh. “That's not going to happen.”

But the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Muehfeldt has been a big part in one of this season's most dramatic turnarounds.

Muehfeldt has helped pave the way for Wallace to rush for 1,397 yards and 13 touchdowns. And the defensive tackle is the team leader with 4 tackles for losses as Fremd takes a five-game winning streak into Saturday's 6 p.m. Class 8A second-round visit by Loyola.

“I'm having a great time with it,” Muehfeldt said. “It's fun to be able to play both sides of the ball.”

Muehfeldt has spent most of his days lining up with the big boys other than his brief fling with the ball back in grade school.

He considered the offensive side his strength but last year rotated series at defensive tackle with current Notre Dame redshirt offensive lineman Christian Lombard.

“I picked it up,” Muehfeldt said. “I had a little bit of a hard time at first but I tried to take it in stride as much as I can.”

This year he felt more comfortable not only in terms of what he was supposed to do but also how to do it for a perennially tough defense.

“I always try to help people out and I really enjoy helping my teammates out,” Muehfeldt said. “I took it upon myself to step up as a leader. Being a vocal leader and leading with my actions.”

Those skills were put to the test when Fremd lost four of its first five games and was in danger of its run of playoff appearances ending at 15 years.

But the Vikings turned it around and Muehfeldt's play at blocking back was instrumental in a second-half 17-16 comeback win at Palatine in Week 7.

“I never had any doubt,” Muehfeldt said. “I knew we all had the heart and determination and it would take all of us working together.”

Muehfeldt also has high expectations in wrestling, where he was at 215 pounds last year and won the Harvard tournament. The same is true in the classroom where he has a 3.25 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, scored 25 on the ACT and is leaning toward studying psychology.

But Muehfeldt's main focus right now is Loyola's high-powered offense led by quarterback Malcolm Weaver (school-record 27 TD passes).

“Up front the D-line will have to have a big impact because they have a fast offensive line and they like to throw,” Muehfeldt said. “Our defensive line will have to really step up and make sure we get pressure on them.”

And Muehfeldt is ready to carry his share of the workload.