Aidan Crisci isn’t the biggest player wearing an Aurora Central Catholic football uniform, but the junior speedster definitely makes a difference.
It’s also not surprising to learn then that Crisci, a running back and defensive back who is listed at 5-foot-8 and 145 pounds on the Chargers’ roster, is a former hockey player.
He mixes it up.
“I’ve just always loved contact, so that’s why I come out there and do what I have to do,” Crisci said. “I just hit people.”
Crisci, who lives in Sugar Grove, played for the Romeoville Huskies through eighth grade.
“I’ve always been a smaller guy,” he said. “I came here and played football because they didn’t have a hockey team. I came in at 120 pounds, but I put in as much work as I could.
“I’m probably up to 153 pounds now.”
Especially in the first half, the host Chargers needed a bit more of a boost than that Friday night during a 57-7 loss to top-seeded Richmond-Burton in a Class 3A second-round playoff game.
Crisci, however, was hard to miss for ninth-seeded Aurora Central Catholic (8-3). He ran back five kickoffs for 88 yards, made at least three tackles and nearly intercepted a pass he broke up.
The kick returns were the result of the Rockets scoring on six straight possessions to open a 43-0 halftime lead.
“We knew it was gonna be a battle and would have to play our best game to compete,” said ACC coach Christian Rago, whose program features only 25 players. “They’re just a really good team.
“Nothing else you can really say. They’re the real deal.”
ACC was making its first playoff appearance since 2016. It was only the Chargers’ second winning season in that span. Richmond-Burton (11-0) is making its 18th straight playoff appearance.
Beating Chicago Rauner 32-14 on the road last week to earn a home game was important for ACC, according to senior quarterback Grant Bohr.
“I’m definitely glad we left a legacy behind, winning that first playoff game in a while, which was big,” Bohr said. “Obviously, this isn’t the way we wanted to go out, but I think this is the spark this program needs to ignite that flame.”
The Chargers didn’t gain a first down until the 7:28 mark of the second quarter and faced a running clock to start the third quarter, but Crisci walked away with his head held high.
“Our intentions were just to come out and play our hearts out,” he said. “We knew they’re gonna beat us nine times out of 10. We gave it our all. At halftime, all we said was, ‘Let’s go score.’
“We got our score and that was the first TD they’ve given up in a couple games.”
The Rockets, who have four shutouts this season, have allowed only 86 points. But Bohr connected with senior tight end Brodie Curry on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 8:25 remaining.
“I was looking up, hoping it wouldn’t hit the defender’s hands,” Curry said. “It came down and I caught it off my face mask.”
Crisci, the team’s leading receiver this season, also caught three passes for 20 yards and ran seven times for 24 yards, giving him 134 all-purpose yards.
“The thing about Aidan is he gets a lot of the dirty work on our offense, a lot of motion trying to fake the defense,” Bohr said. “He doesn’t get the ball too, too much, but the kid never complains.
“He shows up every day and works like crazy.”
Rago said there will be more for Crisci next season.
“He’s kind of our do-everything guy,” Rago said. “Next year we’ll see where he fits — possibly fullback, maybe even quarterback — and get him the ball a little bit more. He’s got toughness.”
Crisci isn’t sure about quarterback, though.
“I’ve tried it, but don’t know if I want to play it,” he said. “I’m so short, I can’t see over the line. Fullback is probably better.”