The Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award is given annually to the state's top senior running back as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards presented by Taco Bell. The award is named after former Wausau High School athlete Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan before starring at end in the NFL for 12 seasons. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the National High School Hall of Fame, and later went on to serve as Wisconsin's athletic director from 1969 to 1987.
The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 25 semi-finalists, and six finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners are announced the week of the state finals.
Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award Finalists:
Bryar Harper, DeForest -- Harper missed all of last year due to injury but burst onto the scene in 2011 as one of the top stories of the year. He led the state in rushing virtually all season, and sits atop the rushing chart currently with 2433 yards and 36 touchdowns through 10 games. Averaging 10.7 yards per carry for the season, Harper has six games of at least 4 touchdowns this year. After his only down game of the year in a Week 9 loss to Waunakee, he rebounded with 326 yards and 6 touchdowns against La Crosse Central in Level 1 of the playoffs.
Devon Linzenmeyer, Ozaukee -- Linzenmeyer was highly productive last year and took his game to new heights as a senior. He carried the ball 252 times for 2188 yards with 30 touchdowns in ten games for the Warriors. In a Week 4 67-33 win over North Fond du Lac, Linzenmeyer ran for the third-highest single game total in state history when he carried the ball 18 times for 447 yards and 6 touchdowns. As one of just four seniors on the team's 25-man roster, Linzenmeyer not only took on a leadership role, he also was a two-way player for head coach Jim Lippe, lining up at nearly every position on defense, rarely coming out of the game. "Devon is a legitimate talent that would have success in any division in the State but he happens to play for a very small program," Lippe said.
Leo Musso, Waunakee -- If Musso played all four quarters every game his numbers would be even more eye-popping, but as it is the Warriors have been one of the most dominant teams in the state and he rarely sees the field in the fourth quarter. Just three times this year has he carried the ball more than 20 times. Still, he's managed to rush for 1651 yards and 28 touchdowns on just 176 carries and is one of the biggest breakaway threats in the state. Well-built with outstanding balance, Musso has good power to run inside and is a threat to take it to the house if he gets the smallest opening. With the Warriors likely to make another deep playoff run, Musso has a good chance at a second straight 2000-yard season.
Joe Schobert, Waukesha West -- Schobert burst onto the scene last year with a Division 1 state title game record 296 yards as the Wolverines captures a championship. He's continued that success this year despite seeing limited carries in a number of West blowouts. In just 154 attempts, Schobert has rushed for 1365 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. He's also an outstanding receiver, where he has totaled 7 catches for 215 yards and 1 touchdown. In a huge Week 8 showdown with unbeaten Arrowhead, Schobert carried the ball 34 times for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns and caught 3 passes for 82 yards, including an acrobatic reception down the sideline on the game-winning drive. Joe is also a two-way player at safety.
Alex Schuh, Kimberly -- For the second straight year Kimberly has had a running back seemingly come from nowhere to post a huge 2000-yard season. Last year it was Crazylegs Hirsch Award finalist Ben Wassink, and this season it is Alex Schuh. A unanimous First Team All-Conference pick, Back of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year in the VFA-South, Schuh rushed for 2063 yards and 29 touchdowns on 256 carries. His signature performance came in a Week 4 win over D.C. Everest when he carried the ball 36 times for 448 yards and 6 touchdowns as the Papermakers held off a late comeback attempt. His 448 yards is the second-highest single-game total in state history.
Adam Vesterfelt, Janesville Parker -- Vesterfelt has been the most consistent back in the state over the last three years, rushing for more than 1400 yards with at least 18 touchdowns as a sophomore, junior, and senior. In his final season he rushed for 1845 yards and 25 touchdowns in ten games for head coach Joe Dye. "Adam is a physically punishing runner who can take it the distance at any time," Dye said. "I have never seen a more physically punishing runner during my 37 years coaching high school football." Vesterfelt holds virtually every school and city rushing record and is likely to be a three-time First Team All-Conference choice in the Big Eight Conference.
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