How Hudson's Ian Ludewig broke a 25-year-old football record and shifted focus to the team

NORTH CANTON — Hudson High School football coach Jeff Gough and his star running back, Ian Ludewig, were in lockstep during separate interviews Friday night.

They didn't quite channel Cavaliers legend Austin Carr by saying, “Get that weak stuff outta here,” but they did make their team-first mentalities clear when asked about a record-setting performance.

Hudson (2-0) dominated North Canton Hoover (1-1) in every facet of a 45-8 road victory at Memorial Stadium, leaving Gough and Ludewig primarily in the mode of reflecting on a complete team triumph rather than the 25-year-old record Ludewig had just smashed as if it were a linebacker meeting him in the hole.

“I'm not out here to play for records,” Ludewig said. “I'm out here to have fun with my friends and my guys.”

Well, this sounds like a good time for Ludewig: The senior set Hudson's single-game rushing record with 345 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries (12.8 average). And the truth is Ludewig could have done more damage, but Gough wisely allowed backups to enter the blowout early in the fourth quarter.

As a team, Hudson produced 546 yards of offense, including 444 rushing on 49 carries (9.1 average).

The previous single-game school rushing record had been held by Josh Holden, who ran for 333 yards and five touchdowns in a 40-14 rout of GlenOak in 1998.

Holden, by the way, is Hudson sports royalty. A member of the school's athletic hall of fame, Holden received a first-team Division I All-Ohio nod as a Hudson senior running back. He went on to play football and baseball for Army. He eventually had a minor-league baseball career.

Asked if he were aware of Ludewig's record-setting night, Gough said with a laugh, “I'm just trying to win a football game.”

A University of Utah lacrosse commit, Ludewig broke Holden's single-season Hudson rushing record (2,051 yards) last season. As a junior, Ludewig compiled 382 carries for 2,193 yards and 26 touchdowns and was voted second-team All-Ohio.

Through two games this season, Ludewig has 53 carries for 515 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in a 35-21 season-opening win over Highland.

Gough called Ludewig's most recent record “a team accomplishment” and mentioned the defense, special teams, offensive line, tight ends and senior quarterback Peyton Neher doing their parts.

“Lud will be the first to tell you without the rest of those guys, records don't get set,” Gough said. “But I'm glad we got the win. I'm happy how we performed and how we finished out the game.”

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To Gough's point, Ludewig posed for a postgame photograph with offensive linemen Jake Clapper, Andrew Lanham, Parker Jenks, Jackson Babitsky and Tommy Ricard and tight end Nolan Tanner. The Hudson athletics department account tweeted the photo to commemorate the win and Ludewig's record. Ludewig commented on the tweet, thanking “the boys up front” who do dirty work in the trenches.

“I'm very fortunate to have the line I have,” Ludewig said. “They're a bunch of dogs up there. It's just a pleasure running behind those guys. I'm not out here for records or anything. I'm just having fun.”

Friday night just happened to be fun for Ludewig and his teammates on a historic level.

A look back at Hudson football's opener: Ian Ludewig scores five touchdowns to lead Explorers to Week 1 win over Highland

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ian Ludewig sets Hudson football single-game rushing record