A year ago, Alec Cromie was an unknown, a sophomore quarterback handed the reigns of the Weeki Wachee High offense. In a county that has long featured signal callers tasked with running the option or complementing the running game, Cromie became something of a statistical anomaly.
He completed 109-of-241 passes for 1,346 yards, higher totals than the two next closest competitors within the county – combined. He tied for the county best with 10 touchdown, but also tossed 12 interceptions. “Last year went way better than I expected, having great coaching from Coach (Mark) Lee and help from the players around me,” Cromie said.
For the team, however, it was another matter. The Hornets went a disappointing 1-9, not the step forward they envisioned after back-to-back 3-7 marks in their first two varsity campaigns. That has Cromie and his teammates motivated to finally gain some respect for the Weeki Wachee program. “We’re looking good for this season,” Cromie said. “I’ve noticed we’ve really progressed. We’re coming together more, getting more leaders for the team. And we’re getting better and better as practice goes on.”
Some of that was on display this past Friday, during a 42-21 preseason victory over Fivay. Cromie’s overall numbers didn’t jump off the page: 7-of-23 for 200 yards with two touchdowns and two picks. Yet as the Hornets were building a 28-7 advantage, Cromie shined completing 5-of-6 passes for 148 yards, including his pair of scoring strikes, one from 25 yards and another for 90. “I think it’s getting much easier,” Cromie said. “I’m reading coverage and knowing which passes to throw. It’s easier to see and make reads.”
Cromie appears a solid match for his head coach Lee, a former college quarterback who favors a pass-heavy offense. “Coach Lee is awesome,” Cromie said. “He’s helped me out so much these couple of years and he’s really believed in me. That helps me lead the team and be the best I can be. He comes up with drills to challenge me… Coach Lee is like a mentor to me. He helps me out with everything.”
“He [Cromie] is doing a great job of maturing and growing and improving at the quarterback position,” Lee said. “Most importantly, he’s becoming a pretty good leader. He leads by example and at the quarterback position that’s what’s needed. I’m looking forward to the year he has and continuing to watch him grow… Alec has a very good arm and very sound decision-making, and he has command of the huddle.”
Lee has pushed Cromie to improve both as a quarterback and a leader. It’s a role Cromie cleary accepts as he enters his junior year. “If we mess up, it’s on me,” Cromie said. “The whole team is on me because I touch the ball every play.”
Weeki Wachee will lean on Cromie and senior running back Shawn O’Gorman as the two biggest offensive playmakers. It was O’Gorman who caught Cromie’s 90-yard touchdown pass last week, one of his three trips to the end zone that night.
Cromie said he’s concentrating on the present, even as he has a chance to open eyes and land on college coaches’ radars. “If I were coaching college, I’d be extremely interested in him,” Lee said. “Very rarely do you have a player that excels both in the classroom and on the field. He’s a very smart kid, a very bright kid, a hard-working kid. He’ll do whatever it takes to get better. I like the drive that he has.”
Some personal goals include getting over 2,000 yards, 15 touchdowns and under five interceptions. But perhaps the largest target for Cromie and all the Hornets, turning around that ugly 1-9 record. “It gives us motivation to push ourselves harder, get better, go 110 percent harder,” Cromie said. “We know what it feels like and we’re definitely not going to let that happen again.. We’re not satisfied going 1-9. We’re not even satisfied with a winning record. We know our capabilities and we know we can be better than last year… It is do or die for me. I know (the seniors) want it so bad and I’ll do anything go get them there.”