Tallying six touchdowns in his first six quarters of play of the 2013 season, Benet senior running back Porter Ontko seemingly had picked up where he left off in 2012.
Ontko confirmed late Saturday night on Facebook that he tore both the ACL and MCL in his right knee during the third quarter of No. 17 Benet’s 41-12 win over South Elgin on Friday.
“The doctor assured me that I will make a 100 percent recovery in nine months or less. I am determined to come back from this bigger, faster, and stronger than before,” he wrote. “This is not the end, but yet a small setback before a major comeback. I thank everyone for all the support I have received in the past 24 hours, I don’t know what I would have done. Benet truly is one big family and I am honored to be a part of it.”
Ontko had run for 40 yards on 10 carries and three first-half touchdowns against the Storm before sustaining the injury early in the second half.
“It wasn’t like any other injury I’ve ever sustained. It wasn’t really a hit to my body. I was standing up blocking someone and another player tried to take out one of my legs,” he said on Sunday of the play. “It was firmly in the ground and just the way he hit it, my foot dug into the ground. He hit it and then I didn’t even really fall down initially. … I knew something was immediately wrong with my knee. Right there, your career flashes before your eyes.”
In the Redwings’ 21-0 win over Downers South on Aug. 31, Ontko ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating. I had a lot of aspirations for myself on the team, in many different areas,” said Ontko, who had received interest from Illinois, Minnesota and Arizona before sustaining the injury. He hopes to play somewhere in the Ivy League, with Penn, Harvard and Yale possibilities.
“I have full confidence in my team to still repeat as conference champions and make a state champion run. They’re a fantastic team.”
