Week 1 is in the books! A lot of running backs put up some big performances on the initial Friday of the regular season.
As we mentioned when we began these rankings, they’ll be updated every week based on performances of the previous week. Strength of opponent, stats, clutch moments, and other intangibles will be considered every week to see who moves up and down on the list.
After the first week of the season, some new names make the list. Here is the new top 10 RB list going into Week 2.
1. TJ Epperson, Bishop Luers
Last season’s leading rusher showed why he’s the top RB in the area. Even against a tough defensive front of Adams Central and a few new starters on the offensive line for Bishop Luers, Epperson showed flashes of his break-away speed ability. He finished with 84 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Flying Jets. The Knights leaned really heavily on Epperson and the run game, showing just how much they trust the junior back. His ability was enough to keep him No. 1, but with Andrean up next, let’s see how he and the Knights take on another tough foe.
2. Braylon Burton, Snider
Burton put together one of the most impressive performances in the SAC in Week 1 against a tough Warsaw team. He finished with 22 carries for 222 yards and three touchdowns. He was a player that I was waiting to see how he came out in Week 1 and emerged as advertised. With a stingy defense up next in East Noble, let’s see how he carries that momentum into Week 2.
3. Cooper Craig, Bluffton
With a dominant 42-6 showing against Shenandoah in Week 1, the Tigers are off to a great start and have Churubusco this Friday. Week 1’s victory was led by Cooper Craig, who finished with 22 carries for 178 yards and three scores. He was already a top back going into the season, this performance shows exactly why he was a pre-season top running back.
4. Noah Dove, Eastside
The Eastside Blazers dominated the South Adams Starfires 45-27 and were led of course by the offensive dynamic duo of Job Richman and Noah Dove. Going into the season, Dove was already a top RB to watch, and his Week 1 performance was solid against South Adams as he finished with 16 carries for 97 yards and a trio of touchdown runs. The Blazers will need every yard they can get from Dove in Week 2 as they prepare for a road test at Adams Central.
5. CJ Jemison, Huntington North
Another name that was right on the outside of my Top 10 in the preseason was the Vikings’ CJ Jemison. Against an Eastbrook team that went 12-1 last season, Jemison led the Vikings to an overpowering 45-13 victory. He finished with 175 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. A solid performance against a perennial good program, Jemison and Huntington North now prepare for Garrett in Week 2.
6. Kolyn Campbell, Bishop Dwenger
He may not have finished with the rushing yards that some of the rest of the guys on this list finished with, but Kolyn Campbell rose to the occasion last Friday. The Bishop Dwenger Saints had the ultimate test in a rematch against last year’s state title opponent in Indianapolis Roncalli. At the end of regulation, the game was still scoreless before the two teams traded blows that ended with Campbell becoming the hero in triple overtime with the two-point conversion plunge for the dub. In a defensive battle, he still finished with 120-plus total yards (rushing and receiving). Arguably, it was one of the toughest tests the Saints will experience all regular season, but I will be watching to see how he does in Week 2 against an out-of-state team in St. Francis De Sales (Ohio) over in Toledo’s Glass Bowl.
7. Leighton Brown, Jay County
The Jay County Patriots made light work of Blackford with a 55-6 victory in Week 1. Brown put together his best rendition of a video game and ran for 333 yards and seven(!) touchdowns in the victory. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound up-and-coming RB made a name for himself in Week 1. Now, the Patriots prepare for New Castle in Week 2.
8. Tucker Reed, Warsaw
In a highly-competitive offensive battle against Snider last week, the Tigers were able to escape with a 33-30 win. It was also a battle between two prolific running backs with Burton and Tucker Reed for Warsaw. He finished with 257 yards on the ground to go along with three scores. The Tigers will have a test this week against Michigan commit Ifeanyi Emedobi and Kent State commit Camden Day along Northrop’s defensive front.
9. Noah Geiger, Columbia City
Columbia City started the season off with a 45-7 victory over NorthWood last week. We knew coming into this season how seasoned the Eagles’ offensive line would be, but were uncertain about the new quarterback. Those concerns were put to rest, at least for the week. Junior running back Noah Geiger led the way with 19 carries for 157 yards and four touchdowns. They’ll have a bigger test this week against a 1-0 Northridge program.
10. Paul Woods, Leo
There was some uncertainty going into the season with the Leo Lions without Nathan Foster in the backfield, but one thing that was clear in Week 1 is that Paul Woods is back and will help carry the load in a new-look offense that works through him and Isaiah Detmers. Woods led the way for Leo in the 45-0 win over Wayne with two rushing scores and has quietly emerged as one of the best power backs in the area.
On the watch list
Barrett Collier, Adams Central
Ten carries for 157 yards and 2 TD’s against Luers.
Brandon Gaither II, North Side
Had 12 carries for 13 yards in Week 1 against East Noble. Bounce back this week?
Aiden Reed, Garrett
Had 15 carries for 165 yards and one TD against DeKalb. How does he follow it up?
Levi Portee & Kobe Reese, Northrop
Tough to punish them for not having a game. With a solid performance against Warsaw from either or both, they’ll be back on the list next week.
Ian Ramey, East Noble
Was the player of the game against North Side with two huge rushing TDs in a game that saw little offense.
Jackson Rhodes & Asher Wagoner, Carroll
Tough to punish them for not having a game. With a solid performance against Warsaw from either or both, they’ll be back on the list next week.
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