As we prepare for another exciting Friday under the lights, we have asked Minnesota high school students to share a game preview or season recap on their football team.
Krithik Sreekumar
Lakeville North
As Lakeville North is taking on Rochester Mayo for their Homecoming game today, October 6th, it is important to recognize one of its stars on and off the football field, Carter Crawford.
Only a sophomore, Crawford is already making an impact for the varsity football team as the starting offensive guard for the 4-1 Lakeville North. Crawford has been playing football since third grade and has been on the varsity roster since eighth grade (although he only became a starter in his freshman year of high school.) His family is a big part in why he plays the game.
“Me playing football is going to help out my family,” Crawford said. “My mom loves to watch me play and it’s really just been in my family for a long time.”
Crawford believes his best quality as not only as a player on the field, but also as a student in the classroom is his leadership qualities.
“My mom has always been on me to be a leader,” Crawford said. “In the classroom sitting in the front row, just little things like that help contribute to my leadership.”
Crawford also believes with his strengths come some weaknesses. He believes his anger is his biggest weakness, although at some points it can be a good thing as well.
As Crawford aspires to move up to college football and one day to the pro level, he knows he’ll need to take criticism to move up.
“I just take input from my coaches and my uncle to face criticism,” Crawford said. “To me outside noise is inside fire.”
It seems that “inside fire” is fueling him and his team as Lakeville North Football is off to a hot start, winning four out of their first five games. They are facing Rochester Mayo, who are 2-3, for their big Homecoming game. Crawford’s expectations for this game is that they “give it their all.”
“There are a lot of good vibes in the locker room and we are gelled together,” Crawford said. “[Lakeville North Football fans] should expect a Panther win but who knows, there’s no guarantees.”
As a football player, Crawford has one goal in mind: Winning. To win not only as a team but also as a player. He believes his team will be playing in the State Tournament and that he, Carter Crawford, “will prove he is a great football player.”
Each week, we ask students to publish stories about their high school's football game on social media using the tag #studentsonthesidelines.
If you are a student journalist, get off the sidelines and share stories about your school’s high school football game. Just post your story on TikTok and tag us #studentsonthesidelines.
