Osseo's 'Prince Of Perseverance' Runs Over All Obstacles, On And Off The Field
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (WCCO) -- For Osseo's 6A title-competing football team, there's one crucial ingredient: A running back who is asked to carry the ball 30-40 times a game.
At 5 feet 7 inches and 170 pounds, Prince Kruah isn't be the biggest player on the field, but in Osseo he's known as the "Prince of Perseverance."
"I'm not the biggest guy, but I've got the biggest heart on this field," he said. "Playing with heart means playing with passion."
That passion, and that drive, have helped him carry his team to the Prep Bowl.
"Good backs -- and you can even watch it in the NFL and in college -- they know how to not take a big hit," Osseo coach Derrin Lamker said. "I might've saw him get hard once last week. And he took it hard, but he knows how to get down and get out of the way."
You could say Kruah's done it the hard way, and he's used to it. He came over from Liberia right before kindergarten with his mother. And he even holds down a part-time job even during the season, working up to 30 hours per week at a local room and board.
Kruah says that's what gives him the compete factor on the field that negates all else -- and he's got it good.
"Determination. I'm determined to make every play matter, and get as much out of every play."
That's why he stands out. Any obstacles are not going to beat him -- he'll just run them over.
"He's from a tough spot," Coach Lamker said. "He's grown up with a tough life -- came from Liberia, and he's battled through it. He doesn't know any better. A lot of these kids don't."
Osseo will play their final game of the season at 7 p.m. Friday against East Ridge in TCF Bank Stadium.