Yorkville offensive lineman Logan Brasfield, right, sets up in pass protection during a drill at practice on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (Rick Armstrong / The Beacon-News)

Like a handful of high school athletes, Logan Brasfield is still trying to play two sports.

What sets the Yorkville junior apart, however, is the fact that the seasons for both football and hockey run concurrently — at least for the duration of football.

Playing both, which he’s done for only two seasons, is no small feat.

“We just finished tryouts yesterday,” Brasfield said of his West Dundee Leafs hockey team.

Brasfield was speaking Wednesday during a break at football practice for the Foxes.

Fittingly dubbed “Big Red” by his football teammates, Brasfield has a thick, curly mop of red hair. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 255 to 260 pounds.

Yorkville junior Logan Brasfield, who plays travel hockey and offensive line for the Foxes' football team, takes a break during practice on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (Rick Armstrong / The Beacon-News )

He plays goalie in hockey and right guard on Yorkville’s offensive line.

The Foxes open their nine-week regular season for football at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Romeoville.

Brasfield, who started playing hockey when he was 8, will begin playing his fifth season in September as one of two goalies for West Dundee. With the regular season and tournaments, the Leafs will play between 50 to 60 games throughout the winter.

“Last year, we worked out a system where he could leave for practice one day a week a little early,” Yorkville coach Dan McGuire said. “I went to watch him play one time at Bolingbrook. He’s playing at a pretty high level.”

Coaches in both sports have been flexible, helping Brasfield make the dual role work.

“I think this year will probably be my last year of playing hockey, and then senior year, I’ll probably focus on football,” said Brasfield, who is still relatively new the sport.

Brasfield’s dream is to play Division I football, and he appears to be headed down that road. He had a friend who played hockey, and he convinced his parents to let him give it a try.

“I don’t think anyone in my family had even skated before,” Brasfield said.

It didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the sport.

He said he always wanted to try football, too, but his parents said no because he didn’t have the time to do both.

Yorkville guard Logan Brasfield, right, helps set up a screen pass letting a rusher go and looking for second level defender to block during practice on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (Rick Armstrong / The Beacon-News )

It wasn’t until his freshman year, during the pandemic, that one of Yorkville’s freshman football coaches raised the subject with his mom during a Zoom call. He convinced her they could make it work.

The young Brasfield made the sophomore team during the shortened six-game season that was played in spring 2021. He made varsity last fall as a sophomore, playing at 230 pounds.

“Hopefully, I’m still growing,” Brasfield said. “The first week with the varsity was a little intimidating, but I realized I could hang with them. I felt that I should prove why I should be here.”

It’s a challenge every day in practice.

The defensive line is the strongest part of Yorkville’s team. Andrew Laurich (Colorado State) and Jake Davies (Wyoming) already are committed, while Andrew Zook and Amani Kortie are getting Division I looks.

Sam Tholen, a senior who’s moving from center to tackle, is the only other returning starter for Yorkville’s offensive line.

“I was pulled up to varsity as a sophomore, too, so I knew what he was going through,” Tholen said of Brasfield. “I’ve been going against Laurich since freshman year when we were both on the sophomore team and against him and Davies since sophomore year.

“Playing against those guys makes you better, and it’s helped that Logan plays hockey, a very physical game. You have to know how to hit in hockey and that helps, having that aggression.”

Brasfield confirmed playing goalie helps him as a lineman.

“My footwork and my hands are strengths from years of playing hockey,” Brasfield said. “I’m pretty quick and it’s helped my athleticism, so I can get out in space and block the linebackers.”

Yorkville lineman Logan Brasfield, second from left, blocks a teammate (90) in pass protection at practice on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (Rick Armstrong / The Beacon-News )

Early on, Laurich was impressed with Brasfield.

“He’s naturally got the smarts and picked it up very well,” Laurich said. “He showed natural strength and has worked hard in the weight room. He’s definitely one of the juniors I’m looking forward to seeing have a good year.”

While the Foxes’ offense may be a question mark to many, Brasfield is confident.

“I think we’re gonna shock some people,” he said. “Those teams don’t know what’s coming for them.”

Offensive leaders: Ben Alvarez, junior, fullback; Logan Brasfield, junior, guard; Sam Tholen, senior, tackle; Gio Zeman, senior, tailback.

Defensive leaders: Jake Davies, senior, defensive end; Hunter Janeczko, senior, linebacker; Blake Kersting, senior, linebacker; Andrew Laurich, senior, defensive end.

X-factor: Kyle Stevens, senior, quarterback.