Mapletown in ‘Rush’ to playoffs
Mapletown’s RJ Durr catches a pass while running offensive drills during practice.
Mapletown’s Tanner Griffin hands the ball off to Dillon Rush while running offensive drills during practice.
Try shining a spotlight on Dylan Rush and he’ll do his best to shine it in another direction. The junior tailback for Mapletown doesn’t like to take credit for his success. And he’s had a great deal of success in just two seasons of varsity football. “The offensive line is really where it all starts,” Rush said. “I have the easy job. All I have to do is run. They have the hard job. They have to block people.”
The appropriately named Rush made an immediate impact two years ago as a freshman, winning the starting tailback job and rushing for 1,016 yards. He increased his production to 1,430 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. Rush’s breakout game was a 387-yard, eight-touchdown – both school records – performance against Avella in Week 5. He scored on runs of 67, 23, 17, 6, 15, 18, 88 and 28 yards.
“That game was great,” Rush said. “It seemed like everything was moving in slow motion. I could see everything developing. The line opened some huge holes, my brother Matt was at fullback that night. It seemed like everything was easy.”
The rest of the season was a struggle for Mapletown. The Maples made the Class A playoffs in Rush’s freshman season and were expecting a return to the postseason last fall. A leaky defense, rash of injuries and three losses in the first four games derailed the season, expectations and team chemistry.
“Things just fell part,” Rush said. “The team wasn’t close. We didn’t work together.”
Though he has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons already in the books, Rush has higher goals.
Higher individual goals, higher team goals – he wants more.
Personally, the goal is a lofty one: 2,000 yards.
“Remember, we play 10 games this year,” Rush is quick to point out. “We have a game against Serra Catholic that would have been a scrimmage. And if we can make the playoffs, that gives us an 11th game. With five teams from our conference making the playoffs, 2,000 is doable. At least that’s what I’m hoping for.”
What Rush prefers is that the numbers in the win column increase for Mapletown. After stumbling to a 3-6 record last year, Rush and his teammates are eager to wipe away the memory of a disappointing season.
“I’d rather win games than put up big rushing numbers,” said Rush, who also is an excellent student with a 4.25 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. “I will always put the team first. It was very frustrating last season. It was frustrating for the whole team. It was so disappointing because we thought we could be a playoff team.”
To get back to the playoffs, Mapletown will probably need another big season from the shifty Rush, who was at 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash at two college camps.
“With him, it’s total dedication,” Mapletown coach George Messich said. “He’s been dedicated to the weight room. He runs five days a week to increase his speed. He’s built well.
“Any time Dylan touches the ball, he’s capable of breaking it for a touchdown. That’s how much natural athletic ability he has. As both a freshman and sophomore, he did some things that you can’t teach.”
Messich is hoping his offensive line can give Rush more running room this season. There is experience up front as juniors Tanner Weston and Lane Powell are back, as is sophomore G.J. Scott, who started four games as a freshman. Ronnie Burkholder Walter, a junior, started at guard last year but has moved to tight end. Senior R.J. Durr, a tight end last season, moves to fullback. He was the Maples’ leading tackler last season. Senior Gavin Uphold, who was injured for much of last season, will play guard and nose tackle.
With Rush at tailback, the Maples don’t pass the football very often. When they do, they must be more efficient than last year, when they completed only 35 percent of their 71 passes. Senior quarterback Tanner Griffin threw only four passes last year. Rush was the leading receiver with only 10 catches.
The defense must dramatically improve as the Maples allowed 29 points and 303 yards per game last season. “We have a lot of people back but our overall numbers on the roster are low,” Messich said. “I think we have kids who want to improve from last year.”