Well-balanced attack

BRADEN RIVER — Carlos Crawford’s best-kept secret is what he initially can’t see.

The Braden River High senior running back is averaging 6.2 yards per carry this season, but it’s on the sideline, away from the line of scrimmage, where Crawford’s been able to gain a new perspective — one that’s allowed him to see the field in a whole new light.

Rather than carrying the weight of the team solely on his legs, Crawford has been able to share the load with fellow running backs Raymond Thomas and Jaylin Austin. The scheme not only has allowed all three running backs to remain healthy, but it’s also increased their individual productivity.

“It gives me a break and a chance to see something different that I might not have seen before,” Crawford says. “We feed off each other.”

Crawford, Thomas and Austin have combined for 1,640 yards on the ground and 20 touchdowns this season while helping lead Braden River to an 8-0 season and the program’s first district title.

Crawford leads the trio in yards with 659, while Thomas (493) and Austin (488) are both approaching the 500-yard mark. Thomas, who is in his first year of varsity football, leads Braden River in touchdowns this season with 10 — nine of which have come on the ground. Crawford has seven touchdowns and Austin has three.

“We trust one another,” says Austin, who is in his first year at Braden River after having spent the past two seasons at Palmetto. “We know that whoever gets in, we can count on them and we don’t have to worry. Other teams have a hard time stopping all three running backs.”

On Oct. 31, Crawford, Thomas and Austin combined for 171 yards on the ground and two touchdowns while helping lead Braden River to a 38-14 victory over Palmetto in the Class 7A-District 10 championship.

“This is the best set of running backs we’ve ever had and the best team,” Crawford says. “A lot of the coaches and players came from that bad season (two years ago), and now we’re looking to regionals.”

Although some players often get caught up in individual accolades, Crawford, Thomas and Austin have focused their attention on what they can do individually and collectively to make the overall team better.
They can all pinpoint each running back’s breakout game — Lakewood Ranch (Thomas), North Fort Myers (Crawford) and Sarasota (Austin).

And they all know what each running back brings. Austin is the fastest. Thomas is the quick one who can make people miss. And Crawford is the bruiser.

“It’s a brotherhood thing,” Crawford says. “We all want to do what’s best for our brother. It doesn’t matter who has the best game or the most yards. We just want to get the win. That’s all that matters.”

Crawford, Thomas and Austin’s willingness to put the team’s success ahead of their own has been an integral part of Braden River’s ability to remain undefeated.

Crawford’s first varsity season was the same year the Pirates went 1-9. Now, two years later, Crawford is having his most productive season on the gridiron thanks in large part to Thomas and Austin, who are both new to Braden River’s offensive system.

Crawford, Thomas and Austin all bring something unique to the team; all three have their own specific packages and plays designed to best utilize their talents. One running back may be better inside the tackles while another might be better outside the tackles in space.

As a result, all three running backs have seen their fair share of success this season; statistically, all three remain relatively even in terms of carries and yards.

“We have a three-headed monster now; and next year we’ll have a two-headed monster with (Raymond and Jaylin),” said Braden River offensive coordinator Eric Sanders. “It’s been great. All three have been unselfish and are focused on winning. In this day and age that’s hard to find, so it’s been a blessing.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

“It’s been great,” Braden River offensive coordinator Eric Sanders says of having three running backs.