Redondo’s Cracknell Emerges as a Senior, but Is in It for the Long Run

Who does Bob Cracknell think he is?

Four weeks ago, the Redondo High senior was generally regarded as a blue-collar running back who could gain tough yards. Steady, not flashy.

Lately, though, Cracknell has been running wild. He has rushed for more than 200 yards in three consecutive victories, and has averaged 12.3 yards a carry and scored 10 touchdowns. In the past three games, he has 18 runs of 10 yards or longer, including six runs longer than 40 yards.

“He turns what should be a five- or 10-yard gain into a 40-yard gain, just by breaking tackles,” Redondo offensive coordinator Rick Francis said. “He’s so strong, although you wouldn’t think that by looking at him.”

At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Cracknell is an average-sized back on a team that appeared worse than average early in the season. Redondo lost its first three games, including a discouraging 34-28 defeat to Torrance, a game in which Redondo squandered a 21-0 lead.

The Sea Hawks were dealt another setback when tailback Nigel Greer, a promising transfer with good speed, returned to Masada after he was removed from Redondo for fighting on campus. He led the team in rushing after two games.

With Greer out of the picture, Redondo opened up its offense and focused on getting the ball to Cracknell, who had nearly become the forgotten man in the backfield despite rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a junior. In the first three games, he rushed for 278 yards in 48 carries.

Since then, Cracknell has rushed for 691 yards in 56 carries to lead the Sea Hawks to victories over Inglewood, 40-6, Centennial, 26-20, and Beverly Hills, 30-22. Granted, each of those teams is 1-5, but the turnaround has been dramatic nonetheless.

“Earlier in the season, I think we focused on Nigel too much, thinking that defenses were going to take Bobby away,” Francis said. “With Nigel not here, Bobby is getting more carries and making the most of it.”

Cracknell didn’t get upset when Greer was receiving most of the attention early in the season.

“Nigel was doing a great job, but we weren’t winning,” Cracknell said. “I don’t care who gets the ball if we win. That’s the bottom line.”

To keep defenses off balance, Redondo has alternated Cracknell between fullback and tailback in recent games. Raymond Littlejohn, a 5-11, 220-pound senior, has done a solid job when called upon to play fullback, and the Sea Hawks have mixed things up with a short passes by quarterback Scott Albin.

“We do a lot more decoy formations,” Francis said. “It has helped us with some deceptions. Defenses are unable to target (Cracknell) as much.”

Cracknell credits a more disciplined approach to off-season workouts for his improved strength, speed and stamina. He also plays cornerback and safety, and leads Redondo in tackles.

“Two years ago, I was coming off knee surgery and I took some trips in the summer,” he said. “I wasn’t really into football. This summer, I was there every day and worked really hard.”

Cracknell gets his work ethic from his father, Walt, a powerlifter who played football at Leuzinger and works with his son on strength training.

“Bobby has gotten stronger and stronger, particularly in the lower body,” Francis said. “All of his lifting is done for power. He doesn’t focus on being a pretty boy. He works for strength.”

Cracknell thinks that Redondo is peaking at the right time. The Sea Hawks (3-3, 1-0) play their most important game to date Friday night when they visit Culver City (3-3, 1-0) with the Ocean League lead at stake.

“We weren’t that concerned with the (nonleague) season,” Cracknell said. “We wanted to improve each game and get ready for league, and I think that’s just what we did.”

*

Cracknell ranks second among South Bay rushers with 969 yards and is first in scoring with 13 touchdowns and 78 points. Peninsula tailback James Durroh, who has played in one fewer game than Cracknell, leads the area in rushing with 989 yards.

But while Durroh is considered a Division I college prospect, Cracknell has received little attention from recruiters.

Francis, though, thinks Cracknell could excel in the right program.

“He has that intangible, that desire to run hard on every play,” Francis said. “Plus, he’s such a solid kid. He’d be ideal for a service academy.”

Redondo Coach Chris Hyduke agrees.

“He has physical tools,” Hyduke said, “but his heart is where he makes things happen.”

*

He may get some arguments, but North Torrance Coach Tony Uruburu believes he has the best quarterback in the area in senior Rocky Jackson, who seems to improve with each game.

Jackson had perhaps his best game Friday in a 35-6 Pioneer League victory over Centennial. He completed 12 of 18 passes, with no interceptions, for 213 yards and three touchdowns to become the second quarterback in the area to go over the 1,000-yard mark in passing. Torrance’s Tony Brown was the first.

“He’s having a hell of a year,” Uruburu said of Jackson. “I would match him against any quarterback in the South Bay.”

Jackson, a first-year starter, is the third consecutive North quarterback to pass for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Frank Ramirez did it in 1991 and ‘92, and Brian Jurado did it in 1988, ’89 and ’90.

*

It isn’t often when a defensive player, especially one from the losing team, is praised by the coaches of both teams. But that was the case Friday after Torrance beat El Segundo, 12-6, despite a superlative effort by Eagle tackle Matt Jasik.

“He single-handedly disrupted (our offense),” Torrance Coach Bill Bynum said. “He caused trouble all night.”

Said El Segundo Coach Craig Cousins: “(Jasik) is one of the best lineman around.”

Notes

Many of the state’s top-rated cross-country teams, including the Peninsula girls, will compete in the 45th annual Mt. San Antonio College Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Division I competition, which includes second-ranked Peninsula, will be staged Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. . . . The Peninsula girls’ tennis team ran its record to 62-0 since the school opened in 1991 with a 17-1 Ocean League victory over Beverly Hills on Tuesday. The Panthers are 14-0 this season.

Dan Stephenson scored three goals, including the game-winner with two seconds left, to lift Mira Costa over Beverly Hills, 9-8, Tuesday and set up a first-place showdown in the Ocean League water polo race. Mira Costa (8-0 in league play) will meet Peninsula (7-1) at 4 p.m. today at Miraleste Intermediate. . . . The Mira Costa boys’ soccer boosters will hold a bingo fund-raiser at 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at the El Camino College cafeteria. Proceeds will be used for equipment, uniforms, officials’ fees and transportation. Information: Tom Allard at (310) 545-9793.