Feeling stronger
SLIPPERY ROCK — Two years ago, Jeff Croll could not lift anywhere near what he can now.
These days, the senior fullback for Slippery Rock High is more than carrying his own weight.
“He has never missed a day in the weight room,” said Slippery Rock football coach Brendan Hathaway. “Never.”
Croll has grown six inches and bulked up from 145 to 191 pounds in the last two years.
Some of that has to do with the natural growing process. But work with the weights also has helped turn Croll into a hard-nosed, tough runner in the Rockets' option attack.
He can bench press 275 pounds, squat 375 and deadlift more than 350, which puts him in a very exclusive 1,000-pound club.
Two years ago, no Slippery Rock player could combine to lift a half ton in the bench, squat and deadlift. Now there are eight, including Croll.
“Our line blows everyone off the ball,” Croll said. “On defense, we hit that much harder. You can definitely see the difference.”
Croll became a key cog in the offense midway through his junior season and finished with more than 500 yards rushing.
In the first two games of this season for the 2-0 Rockets, he's off to an even better start with 190 yards on just 18 carries and four touchdowns.
“You have to run hard through the hole every play, even when you don't have the ball,” said Hathaway, whose offense is predicated on selling fakes. “When you run the option, you don't call a play for a certain player. Three guys can get the ball on any given play.”
Croll had just nine carries for 51 yards in the opener against Brashear, but in Week 2, Meadville was intent on stopping quarterback Ryan Currie.
That opened up things for Croll, who rushed for 139 yards on nine attempts.
“That's what we are trying to do as an offense,” Hathaway said. “Jeff is a great back to have because he runs hard all the time, no matter if he has the ball or if he doesn't.”
When Croll does get the ball, he makes the most of it.
“I like to run people over,” he said. “But our line is so good, I usually don't have to.”
Croll said it took a little time to get proficient in the finer points of the offense.Now, Croll said, everything is second nature.“Yeah, I think we got it down pretty well,” Croll said, smiling. “What I like most about it is that the defense doesn't know what we are doing. Currie can keep it. I can get it. Any of the A-backs can get it.”Croll doesn't mind getting only nine carries a game.A team captain this season, he is buying into the system and leading the best way he knows how.“I just want to be there for everyone and lead by example,” he explained.Croll said he has no individual goals this season, but one big team one.“I want to win the District 10 title,” Croll said. “We all do.”
