Already a returning starter at safety, Burlington Central’s Parker Auxier knew coming into his senior year that he also would be increasing his workload on offense at running back.
Auxier has started on defense for the Rockets since the middle of his sophomore football season. With that experience in mind, he was more than ready to expand his responsibilities.
“I feel like I’m prepared because I played three years on varsity, but I think it’s been a little bit more of stepping up,” Auxier said. “I think I’m ready to step up and play defense at the same time.
“It’s fun, but I feel like I worked hard for it. I think that shows on the field.”
It definitely did again last Friday night as Auxier ran for three touchdowns in leading host Burlington Central to a dominant 41-7 Fox Valley Conference victory over Crystal Lake South.
While maintaining his defensive duties, Auxier has been a backfield star for the Rockets (2-0, 2-0).
Last season, Auxier rotated in at running back with Henry Deering and Tyler McGladdery. Now, he’s the main rushing option, although the Rockets have more in reserve to help him out.
“We knew going in that he would be a focal point for our offense,” Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi said of Auxier. “While he’s a big part of our offense, there’s still a lot left on the bone there that we haven’t even gotten to yet.
“When we start putting it all together, it could be really scary.”
Defense was where Auxier make his initial mark for the Rockets. He didn’t start on the varsity until late in his sophomore year, but by the time the playoffs came around?
He was going up against current Georgia receiver Talyn Taylor and Geneva in the playoffs.
“That just speaks to our trust in him early and it’s only gotten stronger over the years,” Iossi said. “He’s got that ‘it’ and you can’t teach some of that. I would say 90% of what he does I can’t teach.
“I think that’s huge. For him, it’s just being an athlete.”
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A lot of that stems from his lacrosse background. That’s how he first caught the eye of Burlington Central defensive coordinator Nick Scoliere.
“He knows where defenders are going to be, knows where the offensive guys are going to be, knows where his teammates are,” Scoliere said. “Just seeing how that can translate to safety with everything in front of you, kind of knowing how to fill the holes, is big.”
Auxier acknowledged his lacrosse experience has directly contributed to his success on both sides of the ball in football.
“It’s a lot of one-on-one,” Auxier said. “In lacrosse, you always have to beat a guy one-on-one and a lot of that is speed. It translates to football, especially running back and making open-field plays.”
Auxier also doesn’t discount the impact his extra varsity time as a sophomore has had on his development, both on the field and as a leader.
“It did two things really for me,” Auxier said. “One, it helped me be a better player. Two, it just gave me a better mindset. Even now, I can be a leader for the younger guys.
“We go through team talks, and at the end of the week, I was talking to the sophomores and said, ‘I know what it’s like to be in that position. It’s hard to get a spot. You just have to keep working.’”
In last season’s 10-7 win over Cary-Grove, Auxier scored the lone TD to propel Burlington Central to the Class 6A quarterfinals.
The Trojans (1-1, 1-1) are up next Friday. It’s not a challenge Auxier and the Rockets take lightly.
“It’s a big week for us,” he said. “They’re a powerhouse program. We’re just ready to bring it.
“We’re building every single year.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.