Colton Ludwig from Kaneland may not be the tallest player on the field, but his performance speaks volumes. Standing at 5-foot-7 and weighing 140 pounds, Ludwig confidently takes on his opponents. He thrives in the role of running back, embracing the challenge of his position.
“It’s my favorite thing to do,” Ludwig stated. “I love it. I don’t let my size define me or intimidate me when running the ball. I just run hard and push through defenders.”
Recently, Ludwig has excelled for the Knights, boasting over 200-yard rushing performances in the past two games. As the team stands at 7-1, Ludwig approaches the 1,000-yard mark ahead of Friday’s regular-season finale against Metea Valley (3-5) in Aurora.
Kaneland coach Mike Thorgesen praised Ludwig’s determination. “He’s just running his tail off, running through players,” Thorgesen said. “The offensive line is doing great, but Ludwig is doing the heavy lifting. He’s gaining a lot of yards and is thrilling to watch.”
Despite not being large, Ludwig’s toughness stands out on the field. “He’s hard to tackle because he runs low and without fear,” Thorgesen noted. “He’s now running north and south, not bouncing outside like he might have before.”
With a recent surge, Ludwig has accumulated 896 yards and nine touchdowns on 109 carries. Sophomore Timmy Boryc offers support with 496 yards and five touchdowns on 55 carries. Senior linebacker Jackson Little, standing at 6-1 and 210 pounds, has rushed for 98 yards but scored eight touchdowns near the goal line.
Ludwig followed a 213-yard, two-touchdown performance against LaSalle-Peru with 212 yards and three touchdowns against Ottawa, breaking through with a 60-yard touchdown on the game’s opening play. “They’re giving me the ball, and I’m making the most of it,” Ludwig said. “The past few weeks have been fantastic. I’m just finding the holes and trusting my runs.”
Coach Thorgesen appreciates the diverse nature of Kaneland’s offense, yet he trusts Ludwig with the primary role. “We have three solid running backs,” Thorgesen said. “Colton leads the charge, Timmy contributes well, and Jackson excels in tough situations. Ludwig is currently our go-to.”
Kaneland’s strategy is not limited to running. Against opponents like Rochelle in an Interstate Eight Conference game, Kaneland demonstrated their balanced approach. Quarterback Brody Guthrie completed 72 of 116 passes for 1,387 yards and 17 touchdowns. Cooper Stombres made 20 catches for 428 yards and seven touchdowns, while Colton VanDyke, despite a recent injury, has 19 catches for 334 yards and six touchdowns.
Coach Thorgesen highlights their adaptive strategy. “In some games, we’ve focused more on passing. Our receivers and quarterback play well together. We adapt based on what works best at the time. When running works, we’re balanced and go with that.”
Ludwig values the threat of their passing game. “Having a strong receiving team like ours forces the defense to also watch Cooper and Colton,” Ludwig said. “They must focus on those players as well.”
Facing Metea Valley, a Class 8A team, offers an interesting challenge for Kaneland, a Class 5A program. “This matchup feels like a playoff game to us,” Thorgesen remarked. The Knights anticipate a playoff bye in week one, eager for a postseason run. “I’m eager to see our progress,” Ludwig added. “I believe we’ll make a deep playoff run.”