Senior quarterback Sean Ruisz wasn’t entirely sure how his throwing arm was going to respond after his first live football action for Sandburg in nearly 10 months.
Coming off rehabilitation after a January surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Ruisz concentrated on prioritizing his conditioning during that down time.
“I just put so much emphasis on my legs because that’s all I had in the offseason workouts,” said Ruisz, who checks in at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. “I had to leave the upper body alone.
“I feel like if I can get my legs to work, it brings my passing game so much more because teams have to look out for me to run and throw.”
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Montini found that out the hard way Friday night. Ruisz created an instant classic, producing 405 yards of offense and scoring four touchdowns in the Eagles’ stunning 35-28 win in Orland Park.
Ruisz rushed for a personal-best 171 yards on 14 carries and three TDs as Sandburg (2-0) snapped a 25-game winning streak by the two-time defending state champion Broncos (1-1).
On top of that, Ruisz completed 14 of 17 passes for 234 yards, punctuated by his TD pass to Northern Illinois-bound senior tight end Lucas Matykiewicz.
“It’s among the top two individual performances I’ve ever been associated with,” said Sheamus Murphy, who is in his second year as Sandburg’s head coach after stops at Back of the Yards and Eisenhower. “He took over the game.
“His leadership skills and being a good teammate have flourished. He has come a long way as a player, and more importantly, as a young man.”
Senior running back Quinn Durkin, an Army recruit, added 43 yards rushing and 84 yards receiving. The two close friends have played together since the Orland Park Pioneers.
“He’s a special kind of player,” Durkin said. “Seeing his development from second grade as a player and now a leader has been a great thing. He showed a drive and will to fight all offseason battling back from an injury.
“He just showcased it on the field in a big moment.”
Given the stakes and the quality of the opponent, Ruisz called it one of the greatest athletic achievements as a high school athlete.
“If I’m being honest, my performance surprised me a little bit,” he said. “I know the game I play and I know how good I can be.
“I think what really surprised me more than how I played was how much at peace and how calm I was able to stay from the start of the game until the end.”
Ruisz is still uncertain the exact moment of his junior season that he suffered the torn labrum. He thinks it actually happened before his varsity debut, a 31-9 win for Sandburg over Andrew.
He started all 10 games last season and led the Eagles (7-3) to the Class 8A state playoffs, but then he sat out Sandburg’s 28-6 season-opening victory this fall over Riverside-Brookfield.
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Max Fahey, a junior, stepped in for Ruisz and threw four TD passes.
Rehabilitation for Ruisz wasn’t just physical. He credited his work with a sports psychologist in helping accelerate his recovery and restore his confidence.
“His whole thing was helping me keep my poise,” Ruisz said. “Not reveal any emotions on my face, either to my teammates or the other team.
“Montini made a run at us and I knew I’m the commander of the offense. If I want my teammates to react like we’re going to win the game, then I’ve also got to react that way.”
Ruisz is the middle of five kids, with two older brothers and two younger sisters.
“Everything in my life has shaped me,” he said. “Growing up with two brothers, I was born into having that competitiveness. I’ve also learned I have to be emotional with the girls. I’ve got to be tough, but I can’t have anger.
“I feel like everything from my family has shaped me to be a great quarterback.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.