Ted Gatewood did not hesitate for one second when asked if his Red Bank football team could be one win away from a trip to Finley Stadium for the Class 4A BlueCross Bowl without senior AD Crutcher.
After all, Crutcher has run like a raging bull this postseason, gaining 437 rushing yards in wins over Macon County, Stone Memorial and East Hamilton.
“There is no doubt about it. We couldn’t be in this spot without AD,” said Gatewood, who is in his 19th season as a head coach, but first at his alma mater. “I have never coached another kid with as much football knowledge. He truly understands the game. Not just what his responsibilities are, but the coaching points for what we are trying to accomplish.
“He comes to us after games and can sit down and tell us areas where he or the team can be better and how they will do it. He is one of the catalysts of this football program and has done a great job with everything we’ve asked of him.”
Senior star defensive back Jaden Baccus — who has 12 interceptions over his last two seasons — says that Crutcher is a “top-level” player who can do damage against any team.