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One-on-one: Eric Crofut, HCA Def. lineman

By VINCENT THOMAS
Published November 4, 2005

Here's one thing you'll see in Hernando Christian games that you won't see in Hernando, Springstead, Central or Nature Coast contests: middle-schoolers. Seventh- and eighth-graders, clad in shoulder pads and helmets, spill onto the field during blowouts, like Hernando Christian's 35-0 win over Heritage Prep on Thursday. Vincent Thomas sat with Eric Crofut, a seventh-grade defensive lineman. He answered questions as his mind darted from subject to subject. Teammates Jimmy Michaels and Jake Foster, also middle-schoolers, chimed in whenever Crofut's mind wandered.

So you're in seventh grade playing with the big boys, huh? What's that like?

Oh, it's so fun.

Most of these guys are much bigger than you. Do you ever get scared?

No. It's so fun. I've gotten run over like five times this season. When D.J. ran me over it was awesome!

Getting run over was awesome?

Yeah. I just got ran like Carolina is going to run over the Bucs this weekend.

What's your biggest game?

My best game ... I don't know. My big game is causing trouble.

You're not a trouble-maker are you?

What? Trouble-maker? I didn't say that.

O.K. Well then tell me, what was your best game. At least tell me your best play.

(He looks at his friends Michaels and Foster.) Remember that time I almost got that sack? Or ... no ... what about that time where I helped block on that play where we scored a touchdown? Awesome.

You're a young dude. Do you look up to any of the guys on the squad?

(A bunch of teammates start coming up identifying themselves as Crofut's role model, but Foster reminds him, "Come on Eric, you know who you look up to.) Oh yeah, Corey (Drummond) and this guy right here, too. (He points to Desmond Pollock.)

Where do you want to go to high school?

(He looks at Foster and Michaels, who both say they're going to stay at Hernando Christian, and ponders for a moment.) I'm going to go to Nature Coast, because I need to play for one of those big schools, so that I can play for Miami when I go to college.

[Last modified November 4, 2005, 01:41:19]