McCracken leads by example both on and off the football field

Quarterbacks of any football team are pretty much the boss as they call almost all the shots. But to successfully lead a gridiron squad, the signal caller must also be a role model off the field, as well as on it.

And in both those above-mentioned scenarios, Peyton McCracken not only succeeds, but he excels.

The Eau Claire North quarterback has been a key to the team’s continued improvement this season and has helped lead the squad to not only back-to-back victories in the last two weeks, but also in that important second-consecutive statement win against crosstown rival, Memorial High School last week.

As the senior quarterback has grown and evolved on the field, his leadership skills have also strengthened and taken center stage. And both his play and his decorum off the gridiron are an important part of who he is, McCracken’s head football coach believes.

“I think one of the best things that Peyton brings to the table is his coachability. You can coach him hard and expect a lot out of him, which is a quality that will serve someone for their lifetime. He has really begun developing into a leadership role with our other captains. Being a leader of your peers is a really hard thing for a young man to do and that is something that he and our entire captain’s group has taken on. He is a great kid on and off the field and he is going to be someone that I continue to expect a lot out of as we progress through the season,” North High School head football coach Matt McGinnis told the Leader-Telegram when asked to comment on the success of his signal caller.

Born and raised in Eau Claire, McCracken’s love for the game started at an early age and he really doesn’t even recall a time football wasn’t a part of his life or the trajectory of it.

“I have always been interested in football. I played parks and rec flag football throughout elementary and my first year of tackle was in fifth grade,” the North quarterback recently told the Leader-Telegram.

But while McCracken has perfected his game as a quarterback, he noted that he didn’t start playing that position until just a few years ago.

“I haven’t always played QB, played some in eighth grade and really picked it up my freshman year,” McCracken said, adding that “I first started playing (the game) in elementary.”

While he does have a favorite National Football League team, he is candid in admitting that he doesn’t have a specific player who he has patterned his own game after, preferring, instead, to be uniquely Peyton in his approach to the sport.

“My favorite team is the Packers. I don’t try to emulate anyone’s style,” McCracken said, noting that he just tries to “be myself.”

Good words to live by for other local athletes who dream of one day playing football and who look up to McCracken for his many achievements. However, the signal caller does have some other pieces of advice that he would give to those who want to pursue not only football, but, really any sport or aspiration.

“Just keep working, things won’t be handed to you, you (have) got to earn it. Also you’re going to face a lot of adversity and it’s all about how you respond,” McCracken said when asked about what advice he would give to younger players hoping to play at his level one day.

To that end, McCracken is both aware of and feels athletes must be cognizant of the fact that they are role models to today’s youth.

“Absolutely. The way the youth looks up to us now is awesome. We held a youth camp and to see the smiles when we’re around them was really cool,” McCracken admitted.

An avid sports enthusiast, McCracken said that he enjoys playing basketball and also spending time with his family and friends when not studying or learning the latest North offensive schemes and game plans.

As for his future academic and athletic plans, the senior admits that he isn’t exactly sure where he will attend college or what he will major in once he graduates from North this May, only saying that “I’m exploring all options.”

What he does know, however, is that he has grown as both a player and — more importantly — as a person during his four years at North and that will provide him with a solid foundation and place him on a solid footing once he pursues the next phase of his career and life.

“Yes, I’ve learned what it takes to play at this level,” McCracken noted.

Having interviewed McCracken before last week’s 28-16 victory over Memorial High School at Carson Park, the answer to this next question may have slightly changed, although the sentiment behind the answer is basically the same.

When asked whether he had a favorite game or particular moment that stood out to him in his playing career, McCracken’s answer would make any Huskie fan or alumni proud.

“Last year, beating Memorial for the first time in 14 years at a packed Carson Park,” McCracken said.

That he and the Huskies were able to do it again last week has to make the quarterback even prouder as they faced their crosstown rivals, got an early lead and then staved them off to get another win against Memorial.

What lies ahead for any of us is certainly never known, but with a successful high school career now almost behind him, McCracken’s path to future greatness seems to be almost guaranteed and written in the stars.

And when the Huskies take to the field at DC Everest High School at 7 p.m. on Friday night, McCracken will continue to be doing what he loves most and that’s leading his team and showing other aspiring athletes just how it’s done as he and the North football squad look for a third-consecutive victory this season.