Steiner is Warriors' 'do-it-all' player

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on December 5, 2014 1:50 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Any time Dayshawn Pridgen makes a long run and finds the end zone, receivers Malik Richard or Deshawn Boudy turn a two-yard screen pass into a 30-yard gain or quarterback KK Best scrambles out of a sack and sees nothing but green pastures in front of him, Ricky Steiner is usually somewhere peeling himself off the player who should have been there to make the tackle.

Steiner, a do-it-all player for Eastern Wayne, has developed a knack for making the key block on big plays for the team this season. He's become an important, but often unappreciated, part of what has made the Warriors successful this fall.

With several quality skill players around him, Steiner doesn't find the spotlight too often.

"He doesn't get a lot of touches, but he's blocked for us all year, and he's been good at it," head coach Bubba Williams said.

Steiner's physique isn't exactly what you would expect to see from someone who is a great blocker. The baby-faced senior is just 5-foot-8 and 148 pounds. The reason Williams likes him so much is he's willing to do whatever it takes to win.

"To me it's not about getting the ball," Steiner said. "I just like helping out the team however I can, being a good role model. I'm not worried about the other stuff."

In the Warriors' offense, Best isn't often asked to throw the ball deep down the field, rather his responsibility is to get the ball into the hands of his skill players and let them make a play. That's where Steiner comes in.

"My blocking is important because we run a lot of screens, and coach, he says on a screen he wants to gain four yards. Well, I want to get them more," Steiner said.

Aside from his willingness and his work ethic, Steiner isn't really sure what makes him such a good blocker. He doesn't have any secrets of where to hit guys or what angles are the best.

"I guess it's just working hard, I don't really know," he said. "My coaches are great. They teach me the fundamentals and everything ... I'm just try to hold (the defender) off long enough for our receiver to get passed him."

For a player who doesn't often show up in the box score, Steiner has plenty of responsibility. Not only is he a wide receiver, he also starts at free safety, he's the holder on field goals and extra points, and he's the backup quarterback.

He does everything short of washing the team's uniforms.

Steiner is ready to do anything asked of him. He proved it when Williams decided to start him at quarterback for Best in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A state playoffs against Jacksonville.

Steiner came in and immediately threw a tight-spiraled 34-yard completion to Malik Richard on a drive the eventually resulted in a touchdown. Even though Best relieved Steiner midway through the drive, Steiner proved he's capable at the position.

"Coach has always told to me just be ready," Steiner said. "You never know what's going to happen, and I got in there and I was ready. I had faith in all the players, so I really wasn't too worried about it."

He proved he was ready again in the second round, when receiver Deshawn Boudy took a pass 68 yards for a go-ahead touchdown against Southern Nash. Half a football field behind the celebration there was Steiner, peeling himself off of a cornerback.

"I just went out and hit the corner, and heard Boudy broke a tackle, next thing I know he's in the end zone," Steiner said.

When Eastern Wayne takes on three-time defending state champion Havelock tonight, Steiner will likely make some kind of important play. It will likely go unnoticed. And he's fine with that. He's just wants to help his team win.

"If I don't do my job, then the person next to me can't do theirs either to the best of their ability," he said. "So I have to do my job every play. Either they want their fourth ring more than we want our first or we want our first more than they want their fourth."