O-R Athlete of the Week: Teagen Crouse, Waynesburg
Name: Teagen Crouse
Grade: Senior
School: Waynesburg
Sport: Football
Crouse’s week: Crouse certainly made the most of the final regular season football game last Friday at Valley.
Crouse factored in on seven touchdowns in Waynesburg’s 55-8 win over the Vikings.
He threw four touchdown passes and rushed for three more scores.
“We kind of had a chip on our shoulder after the loss (to Belle Vernon) the week before and we came out on offense with our offensive line blocking it up and doing everything we needed to do to move the ball,” Crouse said. “I had seven touchdowns, but only 200 yards, because we were moving the ball well on the ground and getting stops on defense. The seven touchdowns kind of just flowed. It wasn’t forced.”
The three touchdown runs were 19, 6 and 30 yards. Two came on run-pass options and the other was on a scramble.
“Two came on zone reads where if the (defensive) end crashes we have some routes on the outside or I can run it and I had a lane, so I just pulled it and ran,” Crouse said. “The other one was on a drop back pass where I just took off running.
Crouse also connected with his two top targets, Cole Phillips and Jack Ricciuti, on a pair of touchdowns. Ricciuti’s scores were 35 and 24 yards, while Phillips’ were 7 and 40 yards.
“Cole has really stepped up this year and Jack has a been a guy since his freshman year that’s had a lot of success,” Crouse said. “Cole has been huge for us this year and to be able to get two with him comes from that trust we’ve built with each other. When Jack is in 1-on-1, we’re going to take advantage of that. He hit two over the top. I put the ball where he could get it and he made plays.”
Historic connection: Crouse is the all-time leader in passing yards in Waynesburg history. He has 3,759 yards entering Friday’s first round playoff game at Aliquippa. Ricciuti is Waynesburg’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
They set new records on the same night in a win over Mt. Pleasant this season.
“It’s a really cool thing,” Crouse said. “We grew up playing every sport together and have always had a connection, on the football field specifically. We work hard in the offseason, take practice seriously and just work to get better and keep building that connection. It’s been great and it’s definitely cool that both of us were able to achieve a big milestone like that.”
A trip to The Pit: It’s been one of the best seasons’ in recent memory for Waynesburg, which is 8-2, and were rewarded the No. 10 seed and a trip to play at No. 7 Aliquippa in the first round of the playoffs.
Aliquippa is the defending Class 4A champion, but moved down a class.
“I’m very excited for it,” Crouse said. “It’s an opportunity to walk into Aliquippa and compete. There’s going to be a lot of eyes on us. I’ve never played at Aliquippa, but it’s a pretty cool place with a lot of history with all the half of fame guys that have played there.”
This is the fourth year in a row the Raiders have made the postseason, but Crouse and his teammates are searching for their first win. It’s their last chance and they want to keep their season going.
“This is the highest seed we’ve had going in and to me this is the best team we’ve had,” Crouse said. “This is the most focused and experienced team and I think we can play with anybody in 3A.”
Football in college: Crouse said he has several options to continue his football career in college. He has an offer from West Liberty to go along with invitations from Division III schools, Washington & Jefferson and Bethany. He’s also gone on visits to Robert Morris and some PSAC schools. Wherever he decides to go, putting on a helmet in college will be a dream come true.
“It’s definitely something I’ve worked for and wanted to do,” Crouse said. “Not a lot of people get that opportunity, so it’s awesome. It’s always been the goal to keep playing after high school.”
Compiled by Jerin Steele