Seven Running Backs Who Took Over in Week 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 5 brought some huge rushing performances across Illinois, with running backs putting together monster stat lines and helping their teams find the win column. From 300-yard nights to four-touchdown performances, these seven backs were among the biggest difference-makers on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1052579' first='Ky'ren' last='Edmon'] Jr. | Bradley-Bourbonnais</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edmon put together one of the biggest rushing performances in the state, exploding for <strong>323 yards and four touchdowns</strong> in Bradley-Bourbonnais' 41-14 win over Andrew. Once Edmon found space, he consistently turned opportunities into explosive gains. A 300-yard, four-touchdown night is going to stand out regardless of the matchup, and Edmon delivered in a big way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ortez Johnson Sr. | Rich Township</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson made the absolute most of his opportunities in Rich Township's 41-0 win over Bloom. The senior carried the ball just <strong>14 times but finished with 295 yards and three touchdowns</strong>, averaging an incredible <strong>21.1 yards per carry</strong>. Johnson was a home-run threat throughout the night and nearly reached 300 yards despite a relatively light workload.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chance Crissey Sr. | Auburn</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crissey was Auburn's workhorse in a 36-19 victory, carrying the ball <strong>26 times for 264 yards and a touchdown</strong>. He averaged more than 10 yards per attempt despite getting a heavy workload. Crissey's ability to continue producing as the carries piled up made him one of the state's most productive backs of the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2140736' first='Joel' last='White'] Jr. | Carlinville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White found the end zone over and over in Carlinville's 57-21 victory over North Mac. The junior finished with <strong>259 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries</strong>, combining high-end production with a heavy workload. White has been putting together an impressive season, and his Week 5 performance was another major night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2219188' first='Conor' last='McCarty'] Sr. | Neuqua Valley</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCarty came through in a rivalry matchup, rushing <strong>21 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns</strong> as Neuqua Valley defeated Waubonsie Valley 38-21. His night included an <strong>80-yard touchdown run</strong> that answered a Waubonsie score and immediately shifted momentum back to Neuqua Valley. McCarty provided both consistency and the explosive play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1151334' first='Jaylen' last='McMiller'] Sr. | Glenbard West</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McMiller helped Glenbard West hand Lyons its first loss of the season with <strong>190 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries</strong>. He averaged exactly 10 yards per carry against an opponent that entered the night unbeaten. McMiller also made his presence felt defensively with an interception in the end zone, making it an impressive all-around performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1659867' first='Gavin' last='Geegan'] Sr. | Yorkville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Geegan handled a significant workload in Yorkville's 35-14 victory over Plainfield East, finishing with <strong>183 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries</strong>. While some of the other backs on this list produced huge yards-per-carry numbers, Geegan's performance stood out because of his ability to shoulder the offensive workload. Nearly 30 carries and 183 yards made him a major part of Yorkville's Week 5 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->