Deerfield’s Cooper Crane had a few tasks to confront as he began his sophomore season a few months ago.
At the top of his to-do list was getting acclimated to the varsity team and proving worthy of the starting quarterback job.
Once those boxes were checked, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Crane really rolled up his sleeves, putting a vice grip on the position for three years and playing well enough to ensure the Warriors’ one-win season in 2025 was a blip.
“This has been the goal for me personally from the start, to help make this a bounce-back season,” Crane said. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy and games would be hard, practices would be hard.
“But we all owe it to the seniors to have everyone’s hard work pay off. They deserve this.”
Crane’s steady hand at the wheel of the offense is one of the reasons Deerfield is back in the postseason. The 14th-seeded Warriors (5-4), who had qualified in seven of the previous nine full seasons before 2025, will play 19th-seeded Grayslake Central (4-5) at home in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday.
But the biggest hurdle Crane and his teammates cleared may have been their season-opening win over Lake Forest.
“That was one of the highlights so far and a great way to start the season, especially against a team that blew us out the year before,” Crane said. “I knew that if we won that game, our confidence would be really good for the whole year. It gave me and all of us a feeling of ‘we’re good, we can do this.’
“I threw for my first varsity touchdown, and that was a big moment for me.”
There have been many more big moments for Crane in the weeks since that win, some in the passing game and many others in the triple-option rushing attack. Smoothly running that system makes his early career ascension even more noteworthy.
“It’s all about making split-second decisions with the ball,” Crane said. “If I keep it too long, there could be a guy in my face disrupting me. I think my ability to read a defense is pretty good, whether to hand it off, pull it or pitch it. ”
Although Crane had a test run with the offense on the freshman-sophomore team last year, success at the varsity level was not guaranteed.
“He’s incredibly football-smart and is consistently one of the top film watchers,” Deerfield coach Brandon Geuder said. “He has great insight into the game and gives us great feedback on what he’s seeing and not seeing.
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“And at this point, his offensive teammates really do look to him for leadership. To find his voice in that way as a sophomore is great for now and the future.”
When Crane was embroiled in a quarterback competition over the summer, being a team leader was not on his radar. But given the nature of the quarterback position, he eventually embraced the responsibility.
“I try to be as much of a leader as I can,” Crane said. “These guys don’t look at me as being two years younger. We have a bunch of seniors on the offensive line, which has been helpful.”
Crane organizes weekly Zoom calls with Deerfield’s offensive linemen. He and senior center Jaxon Rubin spearheaded the scheduling of the sessions, which have not only benefited the offense but also done wonders for camaraderie.
“They give us a chance to go over our stuff, which is especially important with the triple-option because there’s so much to remember,” Crane said. “They’re usually on Thursdays, and we watch film together. We’ve been doing it all year, and it’s a big part of our success.”
Crane has completed 47 of 85 pass attempts for 623 yards and six touchdowns and has rushed for 231 yards and four touchdowns for the Warriors, who averaged 32 points in their last four wins.
“He’s always ready to put his body on the line and has adapted really well to the physicality,” Deerfield senior linebacker Stone Bielawa said. “He’s often getting hit by bigger guys, and he bounces right back up. That’s dejecting for the defense, but it gives the offense a boost.
“I’ve known him almost my whole life, and I knew going into the summer that he would perform the way we’ve seen.”
Crane’s gritty style has served him well.
“Contact is my thing,” he said. “It’s always been one of my favorite parts of playing football. I like getting hit, and I like being the one giving the hits back.”
With that mindset, Crane epitomizes the Warriors this season.
“I try to do the most I can to put us in position to be successful,” he said. “We’re not the biggest team, but our heart is unmatched.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.