St Rita’s DJ Stewart celebrated his birthday Friday night. And his coach gave him a gift.
Stewart, a junior running back who turned 17 and also wears No. 17, broke through in the second quarter for 64-yard run against Geneva but got caught at the 1-yard line.
The next play, Stewart was ready to block for junior quarterback Jett Hilding on a keeper, but coach Todd Kuska allowed Stewart to run the ball instead for a touchdown.
“Believe me, I tell the guys if you have a long run and you don’t score, you’re not going to get it,” Kuska said. “Last year, our quarterback Tommy (Ulatowski) had like five touchdowns in one game because our guys were getting caught.
“But it was his birthday, so I let him have the carry.”
Kuska had reason to be in a good move.
Stewart ran for 153 yards and two TDs as the 12th-seeded Mustangs powered to a 27-14 victory over 21st-seeded Geneva in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs in Chicago.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Stewart appreciated his coach’s gesture but would have preferred to score the previous play. The Matteson resident broke tackles at midfield, showing some speed before being stopped.
The win advances St. Rita (8-2), which finished second in the state in 7A last year, to a rematch with fifth-seeded Prospect (9-1), a 62-13 winner Friday over Reavis. The Mustangs beat Prospect 42-20 in the 2021 state semifinals.
More Top Picks Best Massage Recliners
“I’m mad about myself for that,” Stewart said of the close call before the TD. “I couldn’t shed that last tackler. But that play helped set the tone for the game.”
Junior safety Zack Clark kept it tone going with a 63-yard TD on an interception return for a 17-0 lead over Geneva (6-4). He added his fourth pick of the season in the fourth quarter.
Clark wanted to keep sophomore receiver Talyn Taylor, who already has received an offer from Iowa, from doing his usual damage for the Vikings.
“Coach trusted me to play him,” Clark said of Taylor. “Coach said if you see that ball, attack it. I attacked that ball and he almost took me down.
“I turned around and saw a convoy of blockers, and my unselfish teammates helped me out there.”
Last season, St. Rita and Geneva played in the second round of the playoffs. The Mustangs, who led 3-0 at halftime, unloaded in the second half for a 28-7 victory.
Junior quarterback Nate Stempowski threw for 76 yards Friday and ran for 61 yards and a TD in the first half, but was injured and didn’t play in the second half.
Sophomore quarterback Tony Chahino came off the bench and connected with Anthony Pantano for an 85-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings have plenty of firepower potentially returning next season with Stempowski, while Troy Velez, their top running back, and Taylor are both only sophomores.
“We have talent coming back,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “But I love my seniors on this team, and they played hard. They always do.
“We had a bad series in the second quarter and that put us behind a little bit. But they fought and battled.”
For St. Rita, Alabama recruit Conor Talty kicked two fields goals. Johnny Schmitt contributed an interception and Pat Carmody chipped in with a fumble recovery.
Stewart, who has rushed for 875 yards this season, hopes to keep playing a few more weeks.
“I have a lot more experience than I did sophomore year,” he said. “When it comes to the playoffs, I’m ready to go and ready to grow.”
More Top Picks Travel
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.