One sideline observer said Notre Dame-bound senior quarterback Jack Lausch had a “dead leg.”

Brother Rice coach Brian Badke confirmed Lausch couldn’t even walk earlier in the week.

Lausch said he was not sure what exactly the injury was when his left thigh met a helmet in the quarterfinals against Mount Carmel, but he knew it could have easily kept him out of Saturday’s game.

“I got treatment all week,” he said. “I wanted to be out there with my guys.”

Lausch could only show half of his talents during a 45-27 loss to host Wheaton North in a Class 7A state semifinal. He threw for 271 yards and a touchdown but he did not have a rushing attempt.

Lausch entered the game with 1,084 yards rushing and 21 TDs. He spent a lot of time on the sideline riding an exercise bike to stay loose but just couldn’t offer up the big running gains the Crusaders (10-3) were used to enjoying this season.

“A week is pretty early to come back from this,” he said. “The amount of progress that we’ve done with our great trainers — I can’t thank them enough.

“To be back in a week is pretty good.”

Lausch, who will play both baseball and football at Notre Dame, did complete 23 of 41 passes against Wheaton North (12-1). He found Da’Kobie Wordlaw nine times for 85 yards and connected with Danny White seven times for 75 yards.

“Jack’s leg was really bad,” Badke said. “He couldn’t even walk the other day, but he is a warrior. He led us and played the whole time. Obviously, his legs are a big part of his game, but you can tell he can still throw it.”

Senior running back Aaron Vaughn scored the second of his three TDs with a 6-yard dive into the end zone with 46 seconds left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 24-21, but the Falcons scored three TDs on their next three possessions to ice the game.

Vaughn, a Providence transfer, finished with 100 yards on 20 carries. He gave a quick speech to his teammates afterward.

“I’ve only been here six months and you made me feel welcome,” he said. “We wanted to get to the championship and that didn’t happen, but I love all of you guys.”

Wheaton North allowed just 100 points in 12 games, so the Crusaders knew it could be a tough night on offense.

The Falcons also welcomed back three-year starting running back Brayton Maske after an Oct. 3 injury. He ran 16 times for 64 yards before leaving in the third quarter with an injury.

Junior Luke Beedle stepped in, however, and did some damage for the Falcons with 106 yards on 11 carries. He scored two TDs in the fourth quarter.

It was Brother Rice’s second postseason game against a DuKane Conference team. The Crusaders opened the playoffs with a 27-26 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South, which finished tied for third in the conference.

In that game, the Crusaders needed Khary Shaw to break up a 2-point conversion attempt with 46 seconds left to preserve the win.

It also was Badke’s final game. He’s retiring with plans on watching his children play sports.

“I’m going to miss this a lot, but I’ve been in coaching 24 years and that’s a long time,” he said. “I was blessed to coach one of the best players Brother Rice has ever had (Lausch), and I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of this program.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.