High school football preview: Black River's Eric Groesser forsook futbol for the gridiron

Elyria Catholic wanted Eric Groesser to be a soccer player, but there was no way he was leaving behind a dream of playing football at Black River's Art Stevenson Field. The Pirates are certainly glad the 6-foot, 205-pounder made that decision, as they'll be using his cannon right arm this fall in their quest for their first league championship since 2013. All Groesser did was throw for a school-record 1,803 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior — numbers the running-rich Pirates sometimes couldn't match over three-plus seasons — punt for a gaudy 43.7 average and increase his career kicking totals to 84 extra points and 13 field goals, highlighted by a 48-yarder at Cloverleaf. While Groesser won't kick to begin this season due to lingering effects of a knee injury suffered during basketball season, his Ben Roethlisberger-esque toughness in the pocket, improved understanding of the team's pistol offense and fiery competitiveness make him one of the Lorain County League's most feared players. "He has the raw talent, but his leadership and confidence put him above the rest," coach Kyle Clark said. Groesser's journey is different than most at Black River, whose community pride for football has maintained fanatic levels since the late-1970s. The Huntington Township resident was first a physical soccer player, suiting up for Midview's youth program and the Seville-based Upper 90 Football Club, but didn't give much thought of playing in high school because Black River does not have a boys team. Once Groesser tried American football in fifth grade, he found the void of soccer fulfilled. He could still kick — he actually prefers the pressure of field goals to playing quarterback — yet put his big arm to good use and punish opponents without fear of a silly yellow card. "It's fun being a leader and leading the offense," he said. "I like throwing the ball. You can do anything, really. You can throw the ball and run the ball." Groesser wasn't handed the starting job as a sophomore despite being physically ready. Returning starter Andon O'Neal won a hotly contested battle due to his ability to scramble and threw for a then-school record 1,306 yards, with Groesser converted to tight end/outside linebacker for the betterment of the team. There was no such starting debate last fall, when Groesser took ownership of the job, overcame a rough start and took his game to the next level with the return of All-Ohio wide receiver Tyler Mrakuzic from a broken elbow. Over the final five games of 2022, Groesser was 56-for-88 (.636) for 982 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions, including a school-record 326 yards and four TDs against archrival Wellington that capped Black River's six-game winning streak after a brutal 0-4 start. Groesser has kept the momentum, launching dimes all over the field as the Pirates excelled during the summer 7-on-7 season despite losing top receivers Mrakuzic and Nathan Urbas to graduation. He needs only 617 passing yards to break Clark's career record of 2,451 (2000-03) and six TDs to surpass Riley Bartolic's 21 from 2017-18. Interestingly, Groesser would rather break the extra point record of 92 held by Corey Bartolic (2013-16). His desire to do so has been so strong that he showed the coaching staff in his signature sarcastic, to-the-point way that he can successfully kick extra points left-footed. That option hasn't been seriously considered — at least not yet — because the Pirates feel H-back/linebacker Justin Moody is up for the job as they prepare for what they believe will be a memorable season. With guys like Groesser and LCL Defensive Player of the Year Blake Hopkins leading the charge behind an experienced line, there's good reason for that optimism. "We're much farther along than last year at this point," Groesser said. "We're definitely a lot more experienced. We had a lot of young guys on the offensive line last year and we're a lot stronger. "We're just bigger, stronger and smarter now." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.