Nobody runs the ball like Joliet Catholic.
And nobody knows who is Joliet Catholic’s fastest runner.
Maybe it’s Brandon Geiss, who rushed for 210 yards and scored on runs of 16, 23, 50 and 51 yards in last week’s 51-15 victory over Morris.
Perhaps it’s junior Tyler Hudetz, who ran for two touchdowns in the season-opening 21-20 loss to Mt. Carmel in which the Hilltoppers’ ground game dominated in the second half.
Connor Krisch is probably a step behind those guys, but what about quarterback John Ruettiger, who covers 40 yards in 4.48 seconds?
“It would all depend on who got the better start,” said Geiss of a race between the four. “Johnny might have a stride on us, but any of us three can definitely keep up with him.”
Despite opening up against those two traditional powers, Joliet Catholic has gained 623 yards and scored nine touchdowns on the ground.
Two scoring drives against a talented Mt. Carmel defense made the Hilltoppers seem unstoppable. First came a 75-yard march on 17 straight running plays. Next came a 61-yarder courtesy of 13 consecutive handoffs.
“You can’t key on any of us, and that’s what makes us so dangerous,” Krisch said. “I’m more of a power runner, but either Brandon or Tyler can break an 80-yard run at any time.
“No one in the backfield is selfish, and we’ll do anything for each other. I’ll block for those guys before I think about me carrying the ball — any day.”
Back in the day, Krisch was a middle linebacker who faced Geiss in youth football.
“There were a few times when I tackled him, and a few times when he got past me,” Krisch said. “All I remember is, when Brandon got around the end, he was gone.”
Geiss and Krisch were featured backs on the Hilltoppers’ freshman team when they began hearing about the southwest suburbs’ latest rushing sensation.
As an 8th grader on the Plainfield Junior Cats, Hudetz ran for 2,359 yards and 38 touchdowns. And now he’s in a rush to win a state title.
“Joliet Catholic hasn’t won a state championship in three years,” Hudetz said. “Three years seems like forever.”
Older brother Brad played on Hilltopper state champions in 1999 and 2000. Next, Nathan played on the 2003 champions.
What’s taking the youngest of five brothers so long?
“Yeah, they give me a hard time,” Tyler said. “I’ll be lying on the couch watching TV and one of them will say: ‘I bet the Mt. Carmel guys are in the gym working out right about now.'”
Behind a powerful offensive line, the Hilltoppers could produce a trio of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time since ’04.
Debate all you want about who is the fastest Hilltopper, but the only race Geiss, Hudetz, Krisch and Ruettiger really care about is the one that finishes in Champaign.
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bsakamoto@tribune.com
