Football: Sandburg's Melone Helps Eagles Rush Into Playoffs

Alec Melone has seen a lot of action for this year, but on Friday night in Orland Park, he rose to the occasion in  

With the Eagles up by just three points with about 10 minutes left in the game, Sandburg’s offense was driving after its defense had just stopped H-F at the Eagles’ 20-yard line. And then, in an instant, one play sealed the deal.

Melone ran a sweep to the right and saw open field. A key block by Nick Lehnerer gave Melone running room and the senior running back found the end zone from 49 yards out.

Melone, who was filling in for the injured Mike Rago, finished the night with 140 yards on the ground.

"The offensive line had been making enormous holes the entire game, giving us a lot of room to work," Melone said afterward.

"Melone has shown another gear, even within the last month or so. He's a great kid and he works really hard," Eagles head coach Dave Wierzal said.

Melone found the extra gear as a wingback, but that isn't where he started out.

"We were trying to get him on the field,” Wierzal said. “We had looked at him as a defensive back, but he showed us where he belongs now."

"It's really just the attitude we bring to the game. It helps us win," said fellow Sandburg running back Lemonte Booker said.

Melone is undecided about where he will attend college next year.

What is known is that Sandburg has finished the regular season with a 6-3 record and is looking forward to making more noise in the state playoffs.