Kaneland’s Ludwig, who calls running hard ‘my favorite thing to do,’ posts back-to-back 200-yard games

Kaneland’s Colton Ludwig isn’t the biggest dude on the field, but that doesn’t slow him down.

The senior running back checks in at only 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, but the results — particularly lately — show someone not afraid to stick his nose into the mix.

“It’s my favorite thing to do,” Ludwig said. “I love it.

“I think I get that mentality from not letting my size define me and not being scared to run the ball. No one really frightens me on the defense. Just run hard, run through people.”

Ludwig has really hit his stride the past two weeks for the Knights (7-1), posting back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances to vault him close to the 1,000-yard mark heading into Friday’s regular-season finale at Metea Valley (3-5) in Aurora.

“He’s just running his tail off, running through people,” Kaneland coach Mike Thorgesen said of Ludwig. “The offensive line is doing a great job, but he’s doing the rest.

“He’s picking up a lot of yards and he’s fun to watch.”

Thorgesen is impressed with how Ludwig punishes defenses while not being the biggest guy around.

“He’s just tough, runs low, kind of a fearless running,” Thorgesen said. “Maybe when he was younger he would bounce it outside a little bit more, but he’s putting his foot in the grass and going north and south, and he’s hard to hit.”

After his recent barrage, Ludwig leads the team with 896 yards and nine touchdowns on 109 carries.

Sophomore Timmy Boryc backs him up with 496 yards and five TDs on 55 carries. Bruising senior linebacker Jackson Little, who is 6-1 and 210 pounds, has only rushed for 98 yards but has been a hammer on the goal line with eight TDs.

Ludwig followed a 213-yard, two-TD performance against LaSalle-Peru with 212 yards and three TDs against Ottawa. He scored on a 60-yard run on the game’s first play.

“They’re just giving me the ball,” Ludwig said. “I’m running through people. It’s just been a great couple of weeks. I’d say it’s just giving me more carries and me trusting the hole.”

Thorgesen loves the diversity of Kaneland’s running game, but he has no problem letting Ludwig take the reins.

“We have three good running backs,” Thorgesen said. “Colton has taken the lead. Timmy is doing a good job. Jackson can get the tough yards. (Ludwig) is the hot hand.

“If it’s not broken, we’re not going to fix it.”

The Knights aren’t just a running team, however.

Brody Guthrie has completed 72 of 116 passes for 1,387 yards and 17 TDs. Cooper Stombres has 20 catches for 428 yards and seven TDs, while Colton VanDyke still has 19 catches for 334 yards and six TDs despite dealing with a recent injury.

“Some of the games, we threw the ball a lot,” Thorgesen said. “Our receivers played well and our quarterback played well. We kind of just take what’s there.

“When we see we can run the ball, we’re balanced, so we’ll take what’s given to us.”

Ludwig sees the passing game as a positive.

“I think it helps a lot having such a great receiving crew because the defense has to be worried about Cooper and Colton,” Ludwig said. “They have to pay attention to those kids as well.”

Kaneland, a Class 5A program, faces a unique challenge Friday in Metea Valley, a 8A team.

“This is a real interesting game for us,” Thorgesen said. “We’re treating it like a playoff game.”

A week one playoff bye should follow for the Knights, who hope for a long playoff run after that.

“I’m excited to see what’s to come,” Ludwig said. “I’m sure we’ll go far in the playoffs.”