Kaleb Brown’s return brings added punch to St. Rita’s deep lineup

St. Rita has had quite the season so far.

The Mustangs finished the regular season with a 7-2 record and won the CCL/ESCC Green division, winning all three of their division games. They shut out two opponents and only scored less than 21 points once all season.

What makes all the accomplishments even more impressive?

They did it without arguably the best running back in the state, Kaleb Brown.

St. Rita players showed throughout the year just how talented they are and how they can win in many different ways.

So what’s it been like adding Brown back into such a talented lineup?

“It’s been nice,” St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said with a laugh.”He’s another weapon that we have. He’s been there. He started for us his sophomore year, he’s been in the battles.”

The Mustangs have been without their star player since the opening minutes of the season, when Brown suffered a leg injury against Mount Carmel. Since then, the Ohio State commit has been working his way back into the lineup.

Brown was set to make his return in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs against Rolling Meadows but Kuska decided against it when it rained all night, creating less-than-ideal circumstances for Brown to make his return.

The senior returned in the second round against Geneva, where he scored on a 2-yard run and also caught a two-point conversion pass.

Kuska and the training staff have been easing Brown back into games. Brown has been out at practice working with his teammates the last couple weeks. He played for a little bit of the Geneva game and has increased his reps in the team’s next game against Hononegah.

The Mustangs host Prospect at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Class 7A state semifinals.

St. Rita didn’t change much of its game plan when Brown couldn’t play, so the coaching staff didn’t need to make a lot of adjustments when the senior came back. The Mustangs feature a lot of talented players and Brown is versatile, so the staff put Brown into the lineup in different spots.

Some wondered whether Brown would return for his senior high school season after injuring himself but Kuska always knew his star player would be back out there when he was ready.

“He’s a high school football player that is playing with his buddies and his friends for high school,” Kuska said. “There’s no doubt that he was going to come back, it was a matter of getting him back into a rhythm and getting him comfortable and confident that he’s back and good to go.”

Brown’s presence on the field goes beyond what he can do on it. Kaleb and quarterback Tommy Ulatowksi both played for the Mustangs as sophomores when St. Rita played in the Class 7A state championship game.

Both players learned from their experience that season and playing in a big-time game under the lights. That experience will be beneficial when St. Rita squares off with Prospect on Saturday night in Chicago.

At this point of the playoffs, Kuska knows that any team can beat any team. While the St. Rita coaching staff is prepping their players for the different things Prospect can do offensively and defensively, the biggest thing Kuska wants his players to focus on is what they can do and control.

Brown has played in big games and is getting ready to be a part of a national program that only plays in big-time games. With a tough opponent coming up, Kuska can’t undervalue the benefit of having Brown on the field.

“He’s a leader for these guys and they know it,” Kuska said. “It’s great to have him as an option. It’s great to look down and see him out there and he gives a boost of confidence to all the guys as well, knowing he’s a high-level player and he’s out there. It’s good for the guys.”