Anderwkavich Makes The Most Of His Chance

Holy Cross Coach Tom Pugh saw a distinct difference in Erik Anderwkavich from all other underclassmen four years ago. As he sat and watched the Knights’ freshman team, he noticed a young quarterback, perhaps more for his body language and facial expression, than actual talent. Of course, he was good as a freshman, but that wasn’t what caught Pugh’s eye.
“He had a determination in his eyes,” Pugh recalled. “I used to watch him, and he had a lot of self confidence. … You can see that in a kid real early.”
Four years and a few positions later, Anderwkavich is fulfilling everything Pugh foresaw.
While he quarterbacked the Holy Cross freshman and jayvee teams to winning seasons his freshman and sophomore years, he played safety as a junior, helping the Knights to the CHSFL AA title. With Brendan Daly entrenched under center, Anderwkavich (pronounced ander-wa-kavich) had to wait a year. Patience, as it turns out, worked out well for him.
Because in his first year at the helm, Anderwkavich, 17, experienced a season for the ages. He led Holy Cross to second place in the CHSFL AAA. His 15 touchdown passes is good for first overall, as are his 1,656 passing yards. Never afraid to take off, Anderwkavich has rushed for 700 yards, good for fifth in the division, and seven touchdowns. His only regular season loss — a 32-21 setback — came to juggernaut St. Anthony’s, the four-time defending champs.
“We expected him to be good,” Pugh said. “We were excited about him coming up … but he’s passed our expectations.”
To watch Anderwkavich orchestrate the Knights’ offense, one can clearly understand what Pugh saw in him four years ago as a skinny, athletic freshman.
It’s not so much his talent or athleticism — both of which are impossible to ignore; he can dominate with his arm and legs — but the manner in which he moves the team, by any means necessary.
If he has to run for 20 yards on 3rd and 19, so be it; if he has to sit back in the pocket and wait for a receiver to clear, he will.
It’s the way he carries himself on the field when you truly see his inner confidence. When Anderwkavich takes off on a designed draw, it’s as if he isn’t worried about who will tackle him, but where the next defender might be so he can shake loose or look to inflict punishment as a linebacker might.
“That’s the best way you can intimidate a defense,” says the 6-foot, 188-pound Anderwkavich, who’s being recruited by Delaware and Rhode Island. “If you hit them, they’re going to get up a little dazed. … I like getting as many yards as I possibly can.”
“When he runs the ball, he runs the ball hard,” senior tailback Tyrell Coon said. “…It helps us because if the pass-blocking breaks down, he won’t stay in the pocket, it’s like we have an extra running back on the field.” His commanding presence with the steely glare and confident swagger brought a calming influence to the Holy Cross huddle. Anderwkavich says he tries not to be too serious, he likes to keep the offense loose. When a drive would begin he’d be totally focused, then go into overdrive as they move down the field.
“He takes control of the team,” Coon says. “Our huddle is real confident. … Whatever he tells us, we believe. We know he can make it happen.”
In his first year at the helm, leading Holy Cross to an 8-2 mark and second seed in the CHSFL AAA playoffs, he sure did. Although he may not possess the arm of Daly, he still can wing it, and when you take into account his running ability, there isn’t much of a comparison. In fact, Pugh had trouble comparing him to any of his top quarterbacks over the years.
“He’s pretty unique,” Pugh says.