North Catholic RB Logan Schade isn’t letting breakout 344-yard performance vs Blackhawk ‘go to my head’
CRANBERRY TWP — Even after rushing for 344 yards Friday night, Logan Schade doesn’t have a big head.
Figuratively.
Or literally. Anymore.
Schade, a senior North Catholic tailback, entered the Trojans’ 65-49 win over Blackhawk knowing he was up against a five-down Cougars front and an eight-man box. He piled up his eye-opening total on 20 carries, running for touchdowns of 63, 66, 60 and 11 yards, all in the second half.
Schade’s father, Ryan, almost couldn’t believe what he heard when everything was tallied up.
“(Another) dad, he said, ‘344 yards,’” Ryan said. “And I was like, ‘What? Total?’ He was like, ‘No, rushing.’”
“I thought I had close to 200. I didn’t think I had 300,” Logan said. “My dad told me afterward, and I was like, ‘I had no idea.’ I don’t really keep track of that.”
His Week 3 performance more than doubled his season total; Logan now has 512 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 33 carries.
Putting himself on the map, Logan said, did boost his confidence. He was the talk of the town walking into school Monday.
“Some of my teachers ... joked with me and say, like, ‘You’re so amazing.’ And, ‘Star running back Logan Schade,’” Logan said. “But it doesn’t go to my head. I know they’re joking about it, so it’s always fun to have a good game and come in the next Monday.”
Logan had a 200-yard day during a JV game, but hadn’t gotten near his Friday total before. He credited his blockers for paving the way.
“He gets it,” Trojans coach Chris Rizzo said. “It’s an 11-man unit. Whenever one guy or a couple guys have a big week, we know that it’s an 11-man commitment. ... When they play for one another and take care of the details, they can be an explosive unit. I think we’ve kinda proved that so far.”
One of those blockers is his twin brother and North Catholic right guard, Jackson, who is older by about 15 minutes. Logan weighed about a pound more than Jackson when they were born, “the only time he was ever bigger than me,” the latter said.
“He only really talks about his linemen when he has to,” Jackson said, joking in a sarcastic tone.
Ryan had another way to tell them apart.
“My wife knew because she knew their mannerisms,” Ryan said. “I had to (look at them like), ‘OK, well, Logan’s head is a little bit bigger than Jackson’s.’”
Jackson missed last week’s victory after getting surgery on an injured finger. Logan regrets him not being out there to help clear the way during his breakout performance.
“He lifts more than me, he’s heavier than me — I’m like 160, 165 (pounds) — and he’s just stronger than me,” Logan said.
Jackson, who stands 6 feet and weighs 240 pounds, hasn’t let Logan forget about a play earlier in the year.
“The first touchdown Logan scored (this) season ... Jackson just pulled and annihilated this kid from Seton LaSalle,” Ryan said.
“I know it’s not just me making plays — it’s him, too,” Logan said. “He’ll come up to me on the sideline and be like, ‘You’re playing really well.’ He won’t say, ‘Oh, you’re doing so good!’ He’ll just say ‘good job’ and high-five me.”
Logan, who visited Division III Muskingum last week, described himself as an elusive ball carrier who can play a part in the passing game, as well. He plans on attending Seton Hill’s game this weekend and hopes to earn more attention as the season wears on.
His father and mother, Sarah, will make sure he remains deferential.
“When we need the garbage to be taken out or the dishes to be cleaned, he’s gonna be doing it,” Ryan said.
