There are always a few little guys on a freshman football team. They look like helmets on legs. Their uniforms barely fit. Within a year, they usually hit a big growth spurt – or they decide that football isn’t for them.

Raekwon Kisilywicz did neither. He topped out at five-foot-five, 135 pounds.

And on the football field, he’s still going strong.

Cranston West’s senior running back has been a three-year varsity contributor, despite being one of the smallest players in Division I.

“I try to play big,” he said with a smile.

That attitude has paved the way, but for Kisilywicz, it’s nothing new. He’s been trying to play big for most of his life. He started playing flag football as soon as he was old enough. He climbed through the ranks, always smaller than his teammates, but faster and quicker, too.

High school gridirons can be a different world, though. It’s not easy to be a 135-pound running back.

Did he ever hesitate?

“Never,” he said.

Kisilywicz came out for the freshman team at West and shined.

“We knew,” said West varsity head coach Steve Stoehr. “We were told when he got to West that he was a pretty good football player and we saw him on the freshman team.”

The next year, he was stronger, but not much bigger.

“We were hoping he was going to grow,” Stoehr joked.

But it didn’t matter.

Kisilywicz saw varsity time as a sophomore, getting a shot as a change-of-pace back in a deep running back corps. He played the same role last year and had several big games in the second half of the season, when West rallied from an 0-4 start to get into playoff contention. He had 90 yards and two touchdowns when West beat East Providence, which set up playoff stakes for its annual Thanksgiving game against Cranston East.

“He can read a hole and he can read a block,” Stoehr said. “And he’s tough – 130 pounds, and he’s a tough, tough kid.”

This season, Kisilywicz has battled an injury, and like the rest of the Falcons, he didn’t hit his stride in West’s first three league games. West got off to an 0-3 start, with its offense failing to fire on all cylinders.

Last Friday, West snapped out of it, and Kisilywicz helped ignite the resurgence. With the game tied in the first quarter, he returned a punt to the brink of the end zone, and West scored on the next play. After South Kingstown took a one-point lead, Kisilywicz returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.

He finished with 55 yards rushing, giving him over 200 all-purpose yards, and two touchdowns.

It was the breakout he and West have been waiting for.

“He always gives us a spark,” Stoehr said. “He’s a good player. He’s as tough as any kid on this team.”

The Falcons ended up beating South Kingstown 40-21, an emphatic reminder that they’re still in the mix in Division I.

Kisilywicz was happy to help. He may be the smallest player on the team, but he pulled his weight, just like he always has.

In a big game, he did exactly what he wanted.

He played big.

“It feels great,” Kisilywicz said after the win. “This was what we needed. Just got to keep it going.”