The running game is usually where Chase Groelle makes his presence most known.
The Wauconda senior specializes in both stuffing opposing ball carriers as a linebacker and paving the way as a lead blocker in his team’s grinding ground attack.
As the Bulldogs continue to win games, though, Groelle can add a different angle: moving the chains as a receiver.
“Normally, I’m a blocking guy who stays under the radar,” he said. “But I got to show off my receiving skills a little bit, which is fun. I think I make a pretty good target.”
With a 6-foot-4 frame, Groelle is right in that regard, and he made good use of that target on Friday night, making a career-high five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 40-7 Northern Lake County Conference road win against Grayslake Central.
His wealth of skills on other fronts makes Groelle an indispensable piece for Wauconda (5-0, 3-0), which is tied with Antioch — its next opponent — for first place and doesn’t appear to have many weaknesses.
Churning out yards on the ground does remain the Bulldogs’ bread and butter, though. Junior Connor Vanselow continued his season-long dominance with 13 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns in only one half of action against the Rams (3-2, 1-2).
But the passing game, led by sophomore quarterback Logan Olsen, was sharp in Groelle’s breakout receiving game, a week after a less-than-stellar performance in a 17-9 win against Grant.
Olsen completed 12 of his first 14 pass attempts for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Four of Groelle’s catches came in the first half, including a 7-yard touchdown 32 seconds before the break.
With a 27-7 lead, Wauconda was on its way to its 16th straight regular-season win dating back to a one-point loss to Antioch in April 2021.
“There’s definitely pressure, but the team has a great atmosphere,” Olsen said. “This is what we’re trying to do every year. When you have guys like Chase leading the team, and everybody’s pushing each other, the expectation is high. We want to win every game.”
Groelle has known a game like he enjoyed against Grayslake Central has always been within reach. Continuing that level of aerial production will make it even more difficult to defend the Bulldogs in the season’s stretch run.
“Passing the ball like this takes the pressure off Connor (Vanselow) because I feel it’s easy to key on a good back like him,” Groelle said. “When we can switch it up and throw the ball like this, it really helps our offense versatility-wise.”
Groelle still assumed all of his other roles. On defense, he helped stymie Grayslake Central’s undermanned offense, which was without do-everything star Kaiden Miller, who sat out the contest with an injury.
“Obviously, it’s a big hole not having him,” Grayslake Central coach Mike Maloney said of Miller’s absence. “On the positive side, it gave us a chance to expand the roles of other players and see who’s ready for bigger roles and who’s not.”
Back on offense, Groelle was also content knifing through the Rams’ front seven to help get Vanselow into the second level.
And don’t forget about special teams, where Groelle is also the Bulldogs’ long snapper.
“He’s a kid that when I first got the job, I talked to about doing all the things he’s doing for us — being a blocker, an H-back catching passes out of the backfield,” first-year Wauconda coach Chris Prostka said. “He’s been incredibly valuable there, and he’s also one of our best defenders.”
Like Olsen, Groelle is bullish on where the program is headed.
“We want to be better every year and set the standard for years to come,” he said. “We’re here now as seniors, but we’re really trying to set up the younger guys’ senior years. That’s what’s really special — starting a legacy.”
It starts with players like Groelle.
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.