Fruita Monuments Crabb blocks kick, scores touchdown in Wildcats' win

Crustaceans aren’t traditionally the fastest critters in the animal kingdom, but don’t tell that to Fruita Monument High School football player Brycen Crabb.

The senior speedster took advantage of his sprinting abilities to help his school on both sides of the ball in a 23-13 victory over Denver South at Stocker Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 15.

A lacrosse player by trade, Crabb this fall returned to the gridiron for the first time since he was a freshman. During the course of the season, he has established himself as one of the top receiving threats on the Wildcats, as evidenced by the fact that he’s hauled in a team-high four touchdown passes year.

“I’ve always loved lacrosse and football. At one point I was a three-sport athlete but as time goes on you have to narrow it down,” Crabb said. “Having football back in my life is pretty fun.”

He added the fourth score to his tally late in the third quarter of Thursday’s contest, a 59-yard strike from quarterback Asher Elliss in which the senior wideout’s wheels were on full display as he boosted his team to a 16-point advantage.

“I saw that there was a safety on the deep side, he was right in the middle of the field and we were all the way over on the far left hash. I spread out my DB, looked at my quarterback (Ellis) and we had the play call. He threw me a dime and I just took it home,” Crabb said. “Me and his brother Judah (Ellis), we go back a long time. We’ve had this connection since we were little, we have played lacrosse together since we were little, so we’ve had that tight bond for as long as I can remember. I couldn’t ask for a better quarterback than him, he’s just awesome.”

Crabb caught three passes and rushed twice for more than 90 all-purpose yards to help boost Fruita’s offense in Thursday’s victory. But offense was not the only phase of the ball in which he excelled. Also listed as a defensive back on the Wildcats’ roster, Crabb had a busy night on defense combatting Denver South’s pass-friendly offense. But it was the often-forgotten special teams in which Crabb really shined Thursday.

Late in the first half, the senior got a good jump on a Raven field goal attempt from within the red zone and laid out, getting a hand on the ball and blocking the scoring attempt to preserve what was then just a two-point advantage. The Wildcats would bleed the clock dry from their, ensuring they would head to halftime with a 9-7 advantage.

“We played like dogs out there,” Crabb said. “I haven’t been feeling great these past few days, so it was kind of a flu game for me.”

The senior was not the only Fruita Monument player who made a phenomenal play on special teams Thursday.

Senior Klive Terrell actually opened the scoring for the Wildcats with a blocked punt in the first quarter that sailed back through the Ravens’ end zone for a safety. It was the lone non-offensive score in the win for Fruita, which also enjoyed a pair of rushing touchdowns from junior running back Justice Gates in their 10-point victory.

“It feels great to be back in the win column,” Crabb said. “Overall, I was impressed with the team. We just needed some heart between us, and tonight we really had it.”

Fruita Monument improved to 5-3 on the season with the victory. At 3-2 in Big 8 League competition, they move into sole possession of third place in league standings. The Wildcats will head out for their final road contest and penultimate contest of the regular season overall next Friday at Brighton; kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.