Burnside healthy, hopes to keep Union's run going

LA PORTE CITY - He isn't “hamstrung” right now, and Wes Burnside can't tell you how relieved that makes him.

“I've always kind of had issues with my hamstrings, but it's never been this bad,” said the senior running back from La Porte City Union. “There was a lot of scar tissue built up. I didn't take care of them like I should have.”

Burnside has had one of the most prolific careers of any area back over the years, amassing 5,597 yards and 74 touchdowns going into Union's Class 3A state playoff quarterfinal tonight against Maquoketa. The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder ranked third in the state last season with 2,336 yards and 30 touchdowns in 10 games, playing three less games than the guy who finished first and one less than the guy who was second.