Lake Zurich’s Chris Pirrone might not be completely engaged during classes on Fridays.

The senior running says he starts game days with other things on his mind.

“From the minute I wake up, I just want to get out on the field and go,” Pirrone said. “I can’t focus in class because I’m already locked in. I’m only focused on one thing: winning that night.”

Pirrone’s insatiable drive is one of the primary reasons the Bears are 4-0 for the first time since 2017, when they reached the Class 7A state championship game. Playing for a program that prefers a hard-nosed rushing attack, Pirrone is a good fit with his penchant for churning out yards between the tackles.

“I know I’m a big part of this team, and I feel like I’m the guy who can take control of the offense,” he said.

That’s precisely what the 6-foot, 180-pound Pirrone does, mostly because he refuses to be brought down. In fact, at the point of contact, it’s more likely to look like an unsuspecting defender is being engulfed by Pirrone’s considerable head of steam.

“He runs very angry and has an intense personality on the football field,” Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz said. “He doesn’t ever stop his feet, which leads to a lot of yards after contact and wears down the defense. He enjoys being someone his teammates can depend on.”

The Bears can usually depend on Pirrone to gain more than 100 yards and help keep their defense fresh by contributing to long drives.

That was on display during Lake Zurich’s season-opening 28-7 win against Fremd. Pirrone was heavily involved in a 17-play, 90-yard, all-rushing touchdown drive and finished the game with 168 yards on 27 carries.

“You could tell they were getting tired and didn’t want to hit me anymore,” he recalled.

Pirrone has rushed for 432 yards and five touchdowns on 80 carries in just three games this season. He sat out the Bears’ 31-7 win against Zion-Benton last week after suffering a sprained ankle, but he expects to be his workmanlike self Friday for a North Suburban Conference showdown against Warren.

Pirrone has fond memories of Lake Zurich’s 23-14 win against Warren last season. It came shortly after he earned a more pronounced role in the offense. He rushed for 80 yards and a TD.

“That was one of the toughest games I’ve ever played,” Pirrone said. “It was a real battle.”

Pirrone makes every carry a battle, and he is usually on the winning side. He agrees with Planz about his ornery disposition and said he uses it to his advantage.

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“My football personality is unique,” Pirrone said. “Once the helmet and pads go on, it’s all business. I love running through people. The physical part of football was built for me.”

But Pirrone also knows a lot about the position, which he has played since middle school. One example of his football IQ at work is his presnap habit of eyeballing the defensive front. He tries to figure out where the most effective hole or running lane might develop.

“Sometimes the D-line pursues so hard that there are easy cutback lanes or you know you can bounce it outside,” Pirrone said. “I hate how people think that running backs just get the ball and run.”

One teammate who has seen a lot of Pirrone’s running over the years is senior linebacker Lincoln Adams. They’ve played together since youth football, and Adams describes his friend as being the player most likely to run through a brick wall.

Adams and some teammates also jokingly liken Pirrone to a superhero.

“It’s like he lurks in the shadows and then goes in and takes care of business,” Adams said. “He puts on his uniform, and he flips the switch. He goes out there aiming to make the other team feel it.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.