The Baer Facts

Star Zeke Elliott Watches Army All-Star Game, Mostly From the Sidelines

This senior from Burroughs learned valuable lessons on his mystical football journey through life.

  Ezekiel Elliott, Burroughs Wonder-kind football star learned some tough but valuable lessons Saturday. He was one of 90 players selected to play in the 13th annual U.S. Army All-Star football game in San Antonio. These hand-picked stars were the best in the land. In life, and in sports in general, lessons are plentiful to learn. Athletes have to persevere; fight through injuries, adversity and rejection. Zeke learned some valuable lessons in that 48 minute of competition on the turf of the Alamodome in San Antonio. He found that even with his bountiful talents, coaches felt others were more needed. Unless viewers had it wrong, No.24 didn’t even get into the game until 3:21 left in the first quarter. He didn’t reappear until midway …

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The Baer Facts

Name St. Louis' Top Running Backs in the Modern Era

Sparks would fly over names like Zeke Elliott, Montee Ball, Tony Van Zant, Jerome Heavens, Anthony Stafford and a host of others.

Update Monday, January 7. Add Jon Vaughn and Bob Christian, both of McCluer North to the list. Christian starred at Northwestern while Vaughn played at Michigan before going on to the NFL. Bryan Keys actually played in the 80s, graduating Burroughs in 1986. Update Sunday, January 6. Morris Bradshaw, running back from Edwardsville has been added to the list. He was a star running back at Ohio State; converted to wide receiver upon the arrival of Archie Griffin and went on to a story-book receiving career with the Oakland Raiders. When Montee Ball crossed the goal line for the Wisconsin Badgers against Stanford in the Rose Bowl New Years day, history was made. The former Timberland (Wentzville) rusher was the first back to score touchdowns …

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James Baer

6:16 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013

Lisa, Good one. Obviously, I didn't know about Rodney Payne of Beaumont.   more ›

Who's The Most Famous Running Back in St. Louis History?

The speculation is all over the board. It could be Ladue's Andy Russell; Burroughs' Zeke Elliott or Montee Ball from Timberland in Wentzville. Don't forget about Tony Van Zant from Hazelwood Central.

Tomorrow, the wraps come off the list of St. Louis' finest football running backs over the course of almost 60 years. This was fun to compile, and surely, someone might have slipped through the cracks. You, the reader are free to vote and comment and to enjoy looking back. Saturday, the Ladue-Frontenac Patch invites you to take a football trip down memory lane.

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Maplewood & Burroughs Clash For All the Marbles Friday Night

Bombers put their unbeaten streak on the line. Devils hold home field advantage.

Burroughs Coach Gus Frerotte has spent two Thanksgiving holidays in a row at the Show-Me Bowl football championships. He was there as a new assistant to Todd Small, and then head coach last year. Both times the Bombers got the bridesmaid prize. See all kinds of Burroughs football photos on the Ladue-Frontenac Facebook page. Frerotte has every intention of making the trek to the Edward Jones for the third-consecutive year. He warned his team about Maplewood, moments after they put the wraps on a 56-0 win over visiting Clayton Saturday. “Maplewood is good. They have a great quarterback (Kahlid Hagens), he’s a load,” said the Burroughs skipper. “We’ll watch some film and get ready for them.” Frankly Bomber players are giddy about going to …

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Demolition Derby: Burroughs Routes Clayton 56-0 in Clock-Shortened Game

Zeke Elliott notches 3 more TDs; Peter Schnuck catches 2 TDs and adds an interception.

If they were to pass around game balls following the John Burroughs 56-0 demolition of Clayton Saturday, they’d have to have a lot of them. Many Bombers players on both offense and defense were worthy of recognition. Zeke Elliott scored 3 more TDs, adding to his gaudy total of 28 for the year. That’s 70 TDs the past two seasons for this senior star. Peter Schnuck caught 2 touchdown passes and had an interception. Linebackers Christian Bledsoe and Xavier Bledsoe and Solo Ceesay chased Greyhound QB Jake Brown all over the field. They didn’t yield a point in 4 quarters. Rushil Sheth was perfect on all of his 8 point after kicks. Be our friend on the Ladue-Frontenace Facebook page. But no resting on any laurels for this 7-0 team. They travel …

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James Baer

6:52 am on Monday, October 15, 2012

Come back tomorrow and find out how Villa Duchesne knocked off St. Joe in field hockey on Sunday. It was a whale of a game.   more ›

THE ZEKE SHOW: 6 TDs as Burroughs Obliterates MICDS, 55-7

2 called back. Ohio State-bound speedster makes it all look easy.

Saturdays football showdown, John Burroughs at MICDS never had a chance. Ezekiel Elliott, the area’s leading scorer (23) TDs scored six times, one including a 65 yard punt return and the Bombers demolished their rivals the Rams, 55-7 Saturday on the MICDS home field. To make matter worse, two more Elliott TDs were called back because of penalties. There's room for improvement Burroughs Coach Gus Frerotte knows there’s still things to keep clean up in a 5-0 season. “Zeke was offsides the first time he scored, he knows better than that.” “ Elliott should be playing for Ohio State now, not the Bombers. He rushed 12 times for 222 yards. He makes those scores look easy, prancing into the end zone while tantalizing and teasing slower defenders. …

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James Baer

11:29 am on Monday, September 24, 2012

You hate to speculate on a 17 year old. But, from what I've seen in football and track, none better. Zeke is a streak.   more ›

Lutheran North, No Match for Burroughs. Crusaders Fall 56-14

Bombers continue to dominate area schools enroute to MICDS showdown Saturday.

So how do you slow down Ezekiel Elliott on a football field? Maybe tell him he cannot play in the game. Or assign about six or seven tacklers. Or just give up. Elliott has dominated the turf of the John Burroughs football field in a 4-0 season. Coach Gus Frerotte, his favorite fan couldn’t be happier. Elliott rushed for TDs of 62, 29, 7, and 76 and returned a 56 yard punt as the Bombers prepped for their showdown with MICDS running all over hapless Lutheran North 56-14. It was 49-0 at half and the game ended with a running clock. Also, Andrew Barnett hauled in a 14 yard strike from quarterback Nick Duncan and Foye Oluokun, the area’s premier returned a kick off 76 yards and reserve back Gregg Booker scored on a 55 yard run. Justin Baker …

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Burroughs Romp: 56-14 over Lutheran North

Ezekiel Elliott scores 5 more TDs; more coverage Monday on Patch.

Burroughs flexed its muscles once more, and romped over visiting Lutheran North 56-14 Saturday afternoon. The game was shortened in the fourth quarter by a running clock. With that, the Bombers are a perfect 4-0. Ezekiel Elliott put on another dazzling show, scoring 5 TDs in the route. Now it’s on to the showcase game with MICDS. The two titans will clash Saturday, 2 p.m. on the Rams home field. Come back Monday for interviews with the coach and players and photos too.

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Burroughs Gifted Zeke Elliott Has Speed to Burn

He could make a difference in the Ohio State offense one year from now.

Ezekiel Elliott of John Burroughs is a gifted athlete. He is the fastest person on two feet on both a football field and an oval track. He's already scored 8 touchdowns this year. And he makes it look so easy. "It looks like he's not even running out there," said his coach Gus Frerotte moments after the Bombers got done destroying Lutheran South 35-0 earlier this week in a game cut short by thunder and possible lightning. Elliott clearly dominated the Class 3 state track meet last spring, bringing home championships in both the hurdles and the sprints. Inbetween those seasons, he stars in basketball too. He worked from a gigantic list of prospective football programs before casting his lot last spring with the Ohio State University. He …

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Bombers Blank Lutheran South 35-0 in Weather Abbreviated Game

Zeke Elliott found the endzone four times before the game was cut short by the weather.

When Ezekiel Elliott is on the field at John Burroughs or running on the track circling the field, there are few competitors who can match him stride for stride. The Ohio State-bound sprinter ran for TDs of 64, 63 and 19 and caught an 89-yard strike from Nicholas Duncan to run his total to 8 on the young season. In a game that was called because of thunder and heavy rains with 1:30 to go in the third quarter, the Bombers (2-0) beat Lutheran South in a Metro League game, 35-0. The Bombers forced a running clock in the entire third quarter. Elliott scored 4 of the first 5 times he touched the ball. Coach Gus Frerotte liberally intermixed quarterbacks Duncan, a junior and Tre Moore, a sophomore. The Bombers played some hard-nosed defense. A …

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James Baer

8:00 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012

John, what are you talking about? You need to reveal your true name then go find another line of interest.   more ›