Naperville Central’s Landon Nelson lowers shoulders, raises hopes in debut: ‘A lot of flashes of really good’

Naperville Central running back Landon Nelson’s introduction to varsity football was jarring.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior gained a total of 5 yards on his first four carries, the last two of which went for losses, against host Hinsdale Central on Friday night.

“They’re very physical,” Nelson said of the Red Devils. “Their linebackers know how to drive to the football, but it just came down to how disciplined we are, and we weren’t.”

That lack of discipline has hampered the Redhawks during the first two weeks of the season, including in their 28-14 loss to Hinsdale Central.

Naperville Central coach Mike Ulreich said his team has played “really bad football” two weeks a row, particularly in the first half.

Nelson did not disagree.

“It’s a rebuild,” Nelson said. “We’re really young. We’re still fighting for our positions.”

That includes Nelson, who is competing with sophomore Ryan Jacobson for the role of lead back. The vast majority of the players on both sides of the ball are first-time starters.

“It’s a very fast pace,” Nelson said of the varsity game. “I have to calm myself. I play very tense. I’m starting to be a little bit more calmer.”

That was evident in the second half against the Red Devils (2-0), who led 21-0 at halftime. Nelson had three consecutive strong runs late in the third quarter. The first was a 13-yard touchdown run that finally got the Redhawks (0-2) on the board.

Hinsdale Central senior quarterback Riley Contreras answered with his third touchdown run of the game to give the Red Devils a 28-7 cushion. But Nelson responded by ripping off runs of 15 yards and 14 yards on the ensuing possession, an 80-yard drive which junior quarterback Jackson Loth capped with a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Vincent Bern with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter.

“This was his first varsity football game,” Ulreich said of Nelson. “So we’ve seen he’s just like a lot of our young guys. There’s been a lot of flashes of really good, and it’s just the consistency of doing it over and over again. But he’s got a chance to be a really good football player.”

Nelson had just 14 total yards at halftime, but he finished with 79 yards rushing on 16 carries. He also caught two passes for 26 yards.

“I feel like as the running backs, as we drive the ball, I feel like our offense starts to improve, and our defense too,” Nelson said. “But we just have to keep driving.

“I feel like we’re a second-half team. We need to be more of a first-half team, and we need all four quarters.”

For players like Nelson, that means getting their technique down pat.

“When he’s able to get his shoulders over his toes, he plays with such great balance, and we see that in all the drill work he does,” Ulreich said. “There were a couple runs tonight where he gets his pads over his toes and he’s able to do some really good things.

“When he runs high, that’s really where the inconsistency comes from, but he does some really impressive things when he gets his shoulders down.”

Senior defensive back Gavin Ellison, who is one of two returning starters on defense for the Redhawks following their run to the Class 8A state semifinals last season, gave the newcomers advice before the season started.

“All I really had to say to them was just play confident,” Ellison said. “You’ve been battling all summer, and now is the time to show it and prove what you have.”

Though their efforts have yet to translate into victories, they are growing up fast.

“A lot of our younger guys have really had to step up,” Ellison said. “One is Eron Kennedy, sophomore cornerback. He had a great game — honestly, probably the best player on the team tonight.

“Landon had a great game as well. Overall, we have a very young team but a lot of potential.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.