By Justin Felder - bio | email
LATTA, SC (WMBF) - This week's WMBF News Athlete of the Week helped turn his team around, and isn't stopping there.
Senior Latta High School linebacker Eric Crawford was a big part of the Vikings' change from one of the worst teams in their region to a playoff contender.
"We have a lot of athletes," said Crawford. "They want to work. They want to win a championship."
Crawford also sees some time running the ball, but his position preference is clear.
"When we step on the field, that first hit gets us excited," said Crawford. "I love hitting people."
Latta head coach Jeff Bley credits Crawford along with his team's group of seniors with Latta's recent rise.
"To turn it around last year and let them be a part of it, all these seniors were a major part of the turnaround," said Bley. "He's one of the leaders. He plays hard every time he's on the field, he's real intense [and] it kind of lifts up everyone else around him."
This week, Latta faces perennial Class 1A power Carvers Bay. Crawford and the team hopes a good performance will get them to the spot the Bears are familiar with.
"We want to win way more games than we did last year," said Crawford. "We want to make the playoffs and hopefully go to the state championship. I think we can [do it]."
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