It turns out Joe Sacco was the answer.
Even as North Central College was moving toward its second Division III national championship last season, the question was in the back of people’s minds: How would the Cardinals replace Ethan Greenfield, the program’s all-time leading rusher?
NCC coach Brad Spencer recalls one play that set his mind at ease. Late in the third quarter of a win against Illinois Wesleyan on Nov. 5, 2022, Sacco scored on a 68-yard run. The 2021 St. Edward graduate was the Cardinals’ third-string running back at the time.
“That was the play where I said to myself, ‘We’re going to be OK next year,'” Spencer said. “I knew Joe was going to have a pretty remarkable year. I saw it coming.”
Sacco has rushed for 990 yards on just 85 carries, an average of 11.6 yards per attempt, and has 13 total touchdowns for the top-ranked Cardinals (9-0) heading into the regular-season finale against Augustana on Saturday.
“It’s been great,” Sacco said. “Throughout the last couple years, I’ve been behind Ethan. It’s been amazing to be able to succeed and follow in his footsteps and be able to show everybody who I am and what I’m about.”
Although Sacco’s results have been similar to Greenfield’s, the 5-foot-9, 184-pound junior doesn’t go about it the same way. Greenfield, who played about 30 pounds heavier than Sacco, was a bruising, physical runner. Sacco brings speed.
“It’s hard to compare and contrast because we’re completely different runners,” Sacco said. “He wanted to run people over. Personally, I would rather run around them.”
Greenfield and his backup, Terrence Hill, took Sacco under their wings in 2021. Greenfield is the Cardinals’ running backs coach, so he still has an impact on Sacco.
“It was no surprise when he showed up in 2021 that he would be a phenomenal football player,” Greenfield said. “He got bigger and quickly became a student of the game. He really listened to me and Terrence a lot and asked questions. The growth that he’s had, it’s no surprise to me the season he’s having.”
Sacco did it all at St. Edward, a small high school. He rarely came off the field, playing both ways and even kicking. It was Sacco’s speed that stood out to Spencer, however.
“We have a lot of guys from smaller schools,” Spencer said. “Typically those guys are really dominating at that level. The challenge here was getting him to put on weight. His stature is a lot different than Ethan and Terrence, but he’s still one of the strongest guys on the team pound for pound. He had all the indications of being a good back.”
Sacco knew he was stepping into a big-time program when he chose NCC, which was coming off its first national title. But the way it has gone still surprises him.
“I would have never expected it to be like this,” Sacco said. “I knew going to North Central would be special, but I didn’t realize how special the brotherhood is with all of these guys. I’m best friends with these guys. It’s so fun knowing that there’s no one that can play with us.”
The Cardinals will go to Rock Island on Saturday looking to wrap up their third straight undefeated season in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, with Sacco knocking on the door of 1,000 yards.
“I feel that we’re getting hot at the right time,” he said. “At the start of the year, we were a little rusty. We’re coming together more as a team. We look forward to showing why we’re the best team in the country and why we’re a dynasty.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.