Kaleb Brown’s senior season at St. Rita started with the lowest moment of his football career.

It will end with the highest when he plays in the Class 7A state championship game.

“It’s been a huge roller coaster,” Brown said. “It’s crazy. I learned a lot and got better. I learned from everything and came forward and showed out on the field.”

Brown, an Ohio State recruit, injured his left leg in the first quarter of the opener against Mount Carmel and missed the rest of the regular season before returning in the second round of the playoffs.

He ran for two touchdowns Saturday night as host St. Rita rolled to a 42-20 win over Prospect in a state semifinal game.

The Mustangs (11-2) will take on Wheaton North (12-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the state championship game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

It will be the second straight appearance in the state final for St. Rita, which lost to Rochester in the 2019 5A championship game. The Mustangs will be looking for their first state title since 2006.

Brown, a receiver/running back, ran for a 17-yard TD early in the first quarter and an 11-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter as St. Rita jumped to a 35-7 halftime lead.

Brown said he always planned on coming back for the playoffs but admitted there was some doubt in his mind about whether it would happen.

“There was a question about it but all power to God,” he said. “I can’t do it myself.

“I was taking care of myself and doing what I had to do off the field to get back on the field. That was it. My team motivated me to get back and do it for them.”

In Brown’s absence, a pair of sophomores emerged as playmakers in the backfield for St. Rita. They both contributed heavily Saturday night.

DJ Stewart ran for 87 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. Ethan Middleton ran for 106 yards on nine carries.

“It just took a lot of courage,” Stewart said. “My coaches and my offensive line have really helped me.

“Having Kaleb back, he really brings a lot of energy to us.”

The young running backs’ development and Brown’s return creates an impressive combination for St. Rita.

“(Brown’s injury) forced us to regroup and bring on other weapons and here we are,” St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. “We’ve got a lot of weapons and options.

“There’s still a long way to go, but I like the way we’ve progressed. We scored two defensive TDs. I like how we’re playing. We’re playing complete football.”

The Mustangs got it done on the defensive side as well, scoring two TDs on interception returns.

Junior Johnny Schmitt took an interception back 7 yards for a TD in the first quarter and senior Jake Polselli took an interception 22 yards to the end zone in the second quarter.

Polselli, a defensive end, added a second interception in the second half.

“It was a halfback in the flat and I’ve been reading them all year, got my hands on them but never pull it in,” Polselli said of his touchdown. “Pulling that one in was special, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without my guys.”

After a 1-2 start that included a 16-9 loss to Mount Carmel and a 37-7 loss to Loyola, St. Rita will play for a state title.

“It’s an unreal feeling,” Polselli said. “We had an unreal group (in the spring) and we only got six games. Getting the full 14 games after a short season has been unbelievable.

“I’m so proud of all of us.”