Little Rock Christian's undefeated season was in jeopardy Oct. 16 when it trailed 42-35 with less than a minute remaining at Greenbrier.
However, the Warriors turned to their senior leader to make sure they would improve to 7-0.
Crockett game-by-game
OPPONENT;ATT;YDS;TDS
Fountain Lake;20;67;2
at White Hall;19;89;2
at Jacksonville;8;68;1
*Farmington;15;213;4
*at Harrison;16;134;3
*Vilonia;11;69;0
*at Greenbrier;51;295;2
*Clarksville;16;133;1
*at Morrilton;27;100;4
*Maumelle;12;112;1
^Sylvan Hills;13;145;2
;208;1425;22
*5A-West Conference game
^Class 5A postseason game
Damarea Crockett, who has rushed for 1,425 yards and 22 touchdowns on 208 carries this season and has orally committed to Boise State University, scored on a 2-yard run, then ran in the two-point conversion with 15 seconds left to allow Little Rock Christian to escape with a 43-42 victory.
Two weeks later, the Warriors clinched the 5A-West Conference championship at Morrilton. The conference title wouldn't have happened without Crockett's effort at Greenbrier, Coach Jeff Weaver said this week.
"He wasn't going to let us lose," Weaver said. "He willed us to victory."
It's been a winning autumn for Crockett and Little Rock Christian as the Warriors (11-0) prepared this week to host Wynne (7-4) in the second round of the Class 5A postseason tonight.
Crockett, 6-0, 215 pounds, expected Little Rock Christian to be one of the top teams in Class 5A this season.
"We knew we were going to be a good team, but as the season went on, we gelled and became a closer team," Crockett said. "We've really worked for it."
Last Friday against Sylvan Hills in a Class 5A first-round game, Crockett had 13 carries for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Warriors' 42-15 romp of the Bears for the school's first postseason victory since 2009.
"He does whatever we ask him to do," Weaver said. "Last week, he touched the ball just over a dozen times but he made those count. We're hard to stop because of him in the backfield."
Since transferring to Little Rock Christian from Camden Fairview before the 2014 season, Crockett has rushed for at least 1,000 yards both seasons. He had 1,250 yards and 19 touchdowns on 144 carries in 2014 after totaling 696 yards and 13 scores as a sophomore in 2013 at Fairview.
Weaver calls Crockett one of the hardest workers he's been around in his coaching career.
"Sometimes you have talented players, but sometimes they don't dedicate themselves the way they should," Weaver said. "He dedicates himself and maximizes his talent. When we point out things that he needs to improve, he accepts that and works on it.
"He's got a lot of God-given ability, but he's done a lot with his ability with hard work."
During the offseason, Crockett announced he was going to sign with Boise State, a member of the Mountain West Conference that won the Fiesta Bowl last season over Arizona. He visited Coach Bryan Harsin and the Broncos' staff in July and shortly after returning to Little Rock from the Idaho capital city, Crockett knew where he wanted to play in college.
"It's a place that fits me the best," Crockett said. "I feel like I have a chance to play there. I like their tradition and the way they do things."
Weaver said Boise State is getting "a complete stud."
"They [the Boise State coaches] were in here and watched him play a couple of weeks ago," Weaver said. "They said, 'We knew he was one of the best in the country, but now, we think we're getting the best in the country.' He's so big. You don't realize how quick he is until you're out there on the field with him. He's got phenomenal hands and he's extremely strong.
"They're getting a great football player. I think it's a great fit for Boise and it's a great fit for Damarea. I'm excited about him going up there."
Before he heads West, Crockett has some unfinished business to take care of at Little Rock Christian. An undefeated season has been what he calls a dream season so far, but for Crockett, the road to War Memorial Stadium for the Class 5A state championship will only get tougher as Wynne, last year's 5A runner-up, looks to spoil the Warriors' season tonight.
"It's not going to be easy. It's the second round of the playoffs," Crockett said. "There's not going to be any more blowout wins. You have to work for everything. You have to be disciplined, control the ball and protect the ball. You have to do everything right down to the T."
Sports on 11/20/2015