BUFFALO TWP — You would think a high school quarterback who threw for nearly 1,500 yards as a junior would frown on hearing his team will try to run the ball more often.

Freeport's Brian Zimmerman, however, is not just another quarterback.

In his first full season as quarterback, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Zimmerman completed 56 percent of his passes (91 for 162) for 1,498 yards, 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

The Yellowjackets went 4-5 last season and missed the playoffs. They rushed for 1,082 yards as a team, far below a traditional Freeport squad.

Third-year coach Bill Dillen wants to get the running game more involved this season, which is fine with Zimmerman, who is receiving attention from Division I schools.

"I hope we can run the ball well," said Zimmerman. "That would take a lot of pressure off the passing game.

"If they can't stop the run, we'll run the whole time. It doesn't matter to me if I throw one pass or 25, as long as we win," he added.

That's the kind of attitude Dillen wants to hear from his team leader.

"We want to go back and establish the run," said Dillen. "We challenged the (offensive) line and we want to parlay that into running the ball well.

"Teams will try and take the pass away from us. If we can do both well, we'll present some problems,"Dillen added.

The Yellowjackets return their top rushers in Brady Sherrieb (345 yards on 85 carries), Kirk Naedele (261 yards), Zimmerman (150 yards, five TDs), Kevin Turner (130, two TDs) and Josh Schrecengost (90).

It's at wide receiver where Schrecengost will do most of his damage. He was Zimmerman's top target a year ago with 22 catches for 498 yards (22.6 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns.

"I just hope to be another deep threat," said Schrecengost. "Zim's a good quarterback.

"I'm sure we'll be one of the top teams, no doubt. Teams will look at us and we still have a lot back, but without our offensive line and Zim, we've got nothing," he added.

Schrecengost will be joined by Nate Kotecki (17 catches, 300 yards, two TDs), Sherrieb (6-124) and Zach Hepler (8-91) as targets for Zimmerman.

"Josh, he's a sprinter. He's got great speed," said Dillen. "Nate is a shifty runner. When he catches the ball, he's a good open-field runner. He's run across the field and scored a couple of times last year.

"Zach, he's a tough player. He also goes across the field. We're blessed with those guys,"Dillen added.

Chris Ittner, a 6-foot, 190-pound tight end, also will give Zimmerman a weapon on offense.

"We have a lot of receivers who can catch the ball," said Zimmerman. "It doesn't matter which one, I have faith in all of them.

"Josh brings the dimension of speed and Nate is quicker than most. Zach is tough and runs good short routes,"Zimmerman added.

"We have all been together since the eighth grade," said Schrecengost. "It's easier for us because we can come together as a team so well."

And that could bode well for the Yellowjackets, who have 28 seniors on this year's team.

"We want to mix it up," said Dillen. "We can open up if we have to. We'll try and run the ball and use the play-action pass.

"We want to go back to running the ball. When you do that, you also control the clock."