Croucher leaving Fonda-fultonville
During his first varsity season as the starting quarterback at Fonda-fultonville, freshman Keegan Croucher displayed poise, skill and maturity far beyond his years.
Croucher, a three-sport athlete, has decided to leave Fonda-fultonville to play football at Cheshire Academy — a prep school located in Connecticut.
“A lot of thought went into it,” Croucher said. “There were a lot of conversations with my family, my friends and coaches. I feel like Cheshire is going to give me a great opportunity. It is a new program and I am going to be surrounded by D-I athletes. I feel like they can develop my game and get me to where I want to be.”
Not long after the season, in which he earned the Times Union Small School Offensive Athlete of the Year award, Croucher received his first Division I scholarship offer, from Indiana University.
During the fall, Croucher led Fonda-fultonville to a Section II Class C title.
Croucher completed 179 of 284 passes for 2,957 yards, 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Croucher capped his season by connecting on 38 of 53 tosses for 422 yards and two touchdowns in a 46-26 loss against Waverly in the state final.
“This year was everything to me. Without coach (Tyler) Hall and coach (Mike) Mancini and what they gave me, none of this would have been possible. Giving me the keys to the offense and with how far we went with us going to the state championship was key for me. I had a lot more eyes on me and I performed.”
Cheshire Academy is running an Air Raid offense, an attack the 6-foot-5 Croucher is looking forward to running. He will be leaving for the school in August.
“A lot of work has already gone into this, but there is a lot more work still to be done,” Croucher said. “I am very excited. It was a difficult decision. I am leaving my parents, leaving my home and my friends and will be living in a dorm. Sacrifices have to be made and this is a sacrifice I believe in.”