HERALD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: GLENBROOK NORTH'S J.R. FLOOD

Glenbrook North football coach Matt Purdy praised his defense up and down following the March 26 victory over rival Glenbrook South, 21-14 in overtime. At the center of the defensive effort was 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior James Robert "J.R." Flood. Or, more like at the perimeter of the defensive effort, because as an outside linebacker, he helped his teammates do their jobs.

Flood made 11 tackles, including a sack he shared with defensive lineman Gino Dini. Flood added another tackle for loss and recovered a Glenbrook South fumble on Glenbrook North's 12-yard line late in the second quarter.

Defensive teammates such as Ryan Henschel and Owen Cassell may have done flashier things, but Flood's game-long effort stood out to his coach.

"As an outside linebacker, you must be unselfish and disciplined, especially when facing a team that wants to run sideline to sideline," Purdy said. "He had 11 tackles, but his play allowed countless other players inside of him to also be successful because he was always in the correct position, forcing things back inside where the help was."