By james art 
Will Hawthorne on Gilbert’s huge win over Bondurant-Farrar
Gilbert’s Will Hawthorne, with teammates Aidan Rush (16), Connor Rush (1) and Ethan Rush (9) in the win over 4A No. 10 Tigers 30-7 over No. 9 Newton.
As the final seconds ticked away during the impressive win over Class 4A No. 10 Gilbert 30-7 over No. 9 Newton last Friday in Gilbert, a ruckus started to build on the Gilbert sidelines.
Not least because the Tigers were about to secure a huge win that gives their playoff chances a huge boost. Senior quarterback Connor Rush was coming into the game.
Rush led Gilbert to a 6-3 record last season, and he was one of the heroes of the Tiger boys soccer team during its bid for the 2023 2A state title. But during the Gilbert boys basketball team’s 80-73 loss to Waverly-Shell Rock in the 2024 3A substate semifinals, Rush tore his ACL.
It kept him out of football in the spring and football this fall. But despite still not being cleared for contact, Rush was able to get his moment in the final seconds against Boone.
Gilbert’s offense had worn down Newton’s defense all day with its potent triple-option rushing attack, led by Iowa State verbal commitment Will Hawthorne at running back. The Tigers were able to buy enough time in the final minutes to make sure they would end the game with the ball, and Gilbert coach Graham Lund decided Rush was ready to come in and take a knee to run out the clock.
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The Tiger sidelines and the large contingent of fans supporting them all erupted in joy when he took the field.
“The whole last drive we were trying to keep the ball in our hands to make that happen,” Hawthorne said. “You see Conor every day working hard, showing up to training and you know he wants to be here. He does whatever he can do to help the team, just to give him that (opportunity) to come here and suit up and wear that lucky No. 1 and go out there and snap the ball with the guys, it’s special feeling.”
That he was able to get a moment in his final regular season game at Tiger Stadium meant a lot to Rush.
“It’s really amazing to know that these guys put me in that scenario,” Rush said. “It feels amazing knowing I can celebrate this moment with my teammates.”
more: How Division 1 freshman quarterback Will Hawthorne became an elite running back
Despite not being able to compete this season, Rush has always been there for his teammates. He is heavily involved during training, helping to train players and providing support. And during matches, he constantly encourages and advises his teammates.
“It’s really hard not to get emotional when you talk about Conor and what he’s done,” Gilbert coach Graham Lund said. “I love this young man so much. He inspired not only the players around him, but also the adults who watched him deal with a really difficult situation.”
Rush is a great inspiration to his cousins, twins Ethan and Aidan Rush.
Ethan and Aiden are juniors. Ethan replaced Rush at quarterback this season, and Aidan played wide receiver.
Ethan did a great job running Gilbert’s triple option, a spin-like attack they call the “Tiger Bone” offensively.
Hawthorne is 4A’s leading rusher with 1,704 yards and 24 touchdowns on 7.7 yards per carry. He had 248 yards on 48 carries and three scores against Newton.
With Hawthorne in the backfield and a talented, veteran offensive line in front of him, Eaton wasn’t called upon to do much with his arm. He has only thrown the ball 25 times all season.
But he makes great decisions when to give the ball to Hawthorne on a handoff up the middle, throw it to another back or hold it on the option. Rush had a big 36-yard run on a long score in the second quarter during the win against Newton.
“What can I say,” Ethan Rush said. “I just pulled it up and turned on the burners.”
For the season, Eaton had 228 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Ethan did exactly as I predicted when Connor went down in February,” Lund said. “Ethan is very sensible and calm. It’s no secret that we want to run the football, limit possessions and be timely in the passing game. Ethan is smart as hell. What people don’t see in the stands is how many times he checks into a better play or comes to the sideline and knows what our next if-then is.
more: What we learned from the big win at 4A No. 10 Gilbert 30-7 over No. 9 Newton
Ethan credits his older cousin with helping him emerge as Tiger’s signal caller.
“He’s been coaching me since he tore his ACL,” Ethan Rush said. “He is with us in training every day. He and coach Lund do a really good job of working with me and telling me what the defense gives us.”
In Gilbert’s run-heavy offense, Aidan spends most of his time blocking instead of catching passes. But Eaton’s only touchdown pass of the season was to his twin brother for 32 yards during a 56-0 win at Des Moines Hoover on Sept. 27.
“That was awesome,” Ethan Rush said. “There were games earlier in the season where I could have had a few more that were canceled due to suspensions. I took my first one to him, it was great.’
Aidan was grateful to his brother for finding him for the score against Hoover.
“It felt amazing,” Aidan Rush said. “We don’t pass it a lot, so it was a really good opportunity to catch that pass from my brother in that game.”
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Both brothers have contributed to Gilbert taking a 7-1 overall record and 3-1 4A District 4 record into the regular-season finale this Friday at No. 3 Pella.
“The Rush families, along with many others, have contributed so much to the success of Gilbert football,” Lund said. “Ethan and Aidan’s father was a coach for two years and is now our technology coordinator. Connor’s mom is the nutrition director in our athletic department … plus Ethan and Aidan’s mom serves on the school board. Their families have such a servant leadership heart. great.”
After going 1-17 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the past two years have been a dream come true for the Gilbert football program. The Rushes and their three boys, who are currently playing football, played a huge role in making that happen.
The team’s fantastic performance on Friday added an exciting chapter to the Tigers’ story over the past two years. The latest chapter couldn’t have been written any better, according to Lund, who mentions Rush entering the game as part of a script only Hollywood could write.
“I know Connor doesn’t like the attention he’s getting with this, but that’s who he is — he’s team first,” Lund said. “But when you have an inspiring story like his, you have to share it because it will give hope to anyone going through a difficult time. I was so happy for him to be in one last play.”
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
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