Canfield’s Scottie Eaton a do-it-all threat

Staff file photo / Brian Yauger Canfield’s Scottie Eaton (10) breaks away from a Howland defender earlier this season. Eaton and the Cardinals open their postseason journey against Akron East on Friday.

CANFIELD — Canfield senior Scottie Eaton has been used all over the field.

A defensive back, a slot receiver, a running back, wherever he’s been needed, Eaton lines up and succeeds. That approach has played a big role in the Cardinals’ success this season — doing what it takes.

Last season, Eaton was primarily a slot receiver on offense. Now, he’s shifted back to his more natural running back spot.

“It’s kind of hard to explain, but honestly, I’m just a player who does what the team needs,” Eaton said. “A lot of people know this, but I obviously play a lot of positions. The only reason I do that is to help the team. Wherever the team needs me to be, I’ll play. Whatever makes the team better, I’ll play it. What guides me is helping make the team better and if that’s the case, I’ll do it 100%.”

The Cardinals have been doubted this season. Fresh off the state title win, Canfield lost star quarterback Broc Lowry to graduation. While no one player makes a team, Lowry was a crucial cog in the machine the last few seasons.

Then, the Cardinals started the season 1-3, including a loss to rival Poland. That adversity could have sunk some teams, but the leadership of a senior class hungry to prove itself proved critical.

“Obviously the loss of Broc and that whole senior class, we were really doubted from the start and obviously the 1-3 start didn’t look too good,” Eaton said. But the guys in the locker room, the seniors, the whole team, the coaches, everybody believed to get us back on track, and I think that was the key to finishing the season 6-3 and having a good shot in the playoffs.”

That belief in each other is a top-down and bottom-up approach. Everyone has faith in everyone else that they’ll do their job. When asked about the success he’s had at tailback this year, without hesitation, Eaton credited the linemen up front blocking for him.

“A big credit goes to my offensive line,” he said. “They help me out. I help them out, and together I feel like as a unit we’re successful. We work together as a team. I’m nothing without them, they’re nothing without me and that’s just kind of how we operate. One whole unit together.”

That attitude is exactly why Eaton has developed into that “Swiss Army Knife” piece for the Cardinals and exactly why he’s garnering college attention.

The Canfield senior has gotten looks from multiple prestigious colleges due to his work on the field and especially in the classroom.

“He’s just an intelligent young man on and off the field,” Cardinals coach Mike Pavlansky said. “He’s a tremendous worker in the weight room during the offseason, also a great baseball player. His work ethic and the ability to be a great teammate has really come through this year for us.”

The Cardinals kick off their postseason run with a road contest against Akron East.

“We’ve got to be on top of our game to have a chance, Akron East is a tremendous, tremendous team themselves,” Pavlansky said. “They’re coming off an upset loss, so they’re going to be extremely ready to play. They remind us a lot of Mansfield, who we lost to in week two. We’ll find out about ourselves as far as how much we’ve grown and improved since week two.”

byauger@tribtoday.com

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