The WPIAL 5,000-Yard Club got its 20th member last Friday night when Mapletown's Dylan Rush raced for 524 yards in their 48-32 win over Avella. Rush racked up 524 rushing yards, which also became the new WPIAL single-game record. His output surpassed the 492-yard performance that Zane Dudek, now at Yale, had in September of 2016. This also marked the third consecutive season that the single-game rushing record has been set. In addition to running for 524 yards, on 39 carries, Rush also scored 7 touchdowns. He found the end zone on runs of 10, 55, 70, 72, 42, 64 and 11 yards. If that wasn't already enough, he accounted for all of Mapletown's yards and points by also adding three two-point conversions.  

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Dylan Rush may play for a Class 1A school, but he clearly has earned the right to be mentioned among the stars in the WPIAL. He is a four-year starter that now is the 20th member of the WPIAL 5,000-yard Club. Entering the contest against Avella he led the WPIAL this season with 532 yards through his first three games. His record performance moved his senior season total to 1,058 yards (264.5/game). If what we already ave mentioned is not enough to impress, look at his stats against just Avella. In the previous three meetings against Avella, Rush totaled 840 yards on the ground with 15 touchdowns, while kicking five extra points and scoring three two-point conversions.

 

In addition to all the success on the football field, Rush holds a 4.25 grade-point average and clearly is a leader. He is a guy who ran for over 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2014 and now has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Rush's career rushing total stands at 5,356 yards which currently places him 14th on the all-time list; just 222 yards outside of the top-10. In addition to carrying the load for the Maples on offense, he is also a stellar defensive back, punts, and kicks extra points. One more note: Rush's record-setting performance came just one week after becoming his school's all-time leading rusher and scorer. He may only stand 5-feet, 8-inches but Dylan Rush is a player that has earned respect and needs to get his fair do for college coaches.

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                                                                     Check out Rush and the Maples as they travel to face undefeated California this Friday (9/22) at 7pm

 

Here is a look at the, now, 20-member WPIAL 5,000-yard Club: