Orange County All-Star Football Game : South’s Crayton Gets Another Chance to Impress at His Chosen Position

Estrus Crayton of Santa Ana High School tried for two seasons to convince coaches and teammates that he was a running back.

One future teammate had his doubts the first day Crayton walked into Santa Ana’s gymnasium after moving to Southern California from Texas as a junior.

“I was walking through the gym with my uncle and some guys asked me if I played sports,” Crayton said. “I told them I was a running back.

“Robert Lee (the Saints’ 1,000-yard rusher) looked at me and said, ‘Running back? You can forget it.’ ”

Welcome to Santa Ana High, Estrus Crayton. Now prove that you belong on the same field with some of the best athletes in Orange County.

It wasn’t easy. Crayton spent most of his junior season getting acclimated to a new school, playing cornerback and trying to talk his coaches into giving him an opportunity to run with the football.

“I begged them to put me in at running back,” Crayton said. “Finally, I got my chance one day in practice.”

Crayton ran several sweeps, accelerating around the corners and breaking into an open field. Afterward, Lee told him, “You made them (defense) look real stupid.”

Crayton had impressed Lee. The next step was the coaching staff. He became a third-string running back in practice, then finally got a chance to run in a playoff game against Santa Monica.

Crayton rushed for nearly 100 yards in a lopsided victory and many were predicting he would replace the graduating Lee at tailback as a senior.

Before his senior year, Crayton worked out with his uncle, Jim Lyday, three days a week lifting weights and running in the deep sand of the Santa Ana River bed to increase his leg strength. He rode an exercise bicycle 10 miles every day.

He anticipated a productive senior season at running back. Instead, he alternated with junior Garner Hicks at tailback.

“It seemed like every time I made a good run and felt like I was getting started, I was back on the sideline,” Crayton said. “I felt I should have played more.”

Crayton gained 639 yards in 93 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns. He also started at cornerback and was tried as a wide receiver in an early season loss to Loyola.

“I caught one pass for three yards in that game,” he said. “Nothing worked that night. The next day, the coaches asked me what I wanted to play. I told them I was a running back and decided to prove it in league (play).”

Crayton was convincing in leading Santa Ana to its third straight Century League title and was later named the most valuable player of the Century League. Crayton had silenced his critics as an established running back. Well, almost.

Crayton was selected to play for the South team in the 30th Orange County All-Star football game on Friday night in Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium. But he was originally picked as a defensive back.

“I think coaches take one look at me (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) and automatically think I’m a receiver or a defensive back,” he said. “I know defensive players look at me and think, ‘I’m going to kill that skinny guy.’ ”

But once again, Crayton has made an impression. He will be the starting tailback for the South team in a game that showcases the top talent in the county.

“A lot of people see him as a wide receiver or defensive back,” said South Coach Dave Holland of Corona del Mar. “But he’s shown good explosion and the ability to turn the corner quickly at running back. He’s the best back in camp.”

On game night, there will be another test for Crayton. He will likely be compared to the North’s highly publicized starting tailback, Derek Brown of Servite. Brown established a county single-season rushing record as a senior and has signed a letter of intent to play at Nebraska in the fall.

“People are saying this game is going to be the Derek Brown Show, but I feel I have something to show people,” Crayton said. “I’m hoping people will look at me and say, ‘Who’s that guy?”’