Eric Strozier has been making plays for the second-year Alcovy Tigers since he stepped onto the football field Sept. 1, 2006.

And despite a 17-10 heartbreaking loss to Winder-Barrow last Friday during the final game of his high school career, it was no different.

In fact, Strozier unquestionably did his part, catching eight passes for a career-high 187 yards.

In addition, he played exceptionally well on special teams, returning two kickoffs for nearly 75 yards.

"I was just so into (the game) I really didn't even notice it," said Strozier of his big receiving day.

Based on his performance, Strozier has been selected as the Chick-fil-A Prep Athlete of the Week.

Earlier this week, Alcovy head coach Kirk Hoffmann said that his star receiver was one of the reasons why the Tigers improved so much from their winless campaign just one year ago.

"This group of kids went from ground zero to laying a pretty good foundation for our program," said Hoffmann, "and Strozier was one of those kids."

Although it may look easy on TV or from the stands, catching passes is no simple task. In fact, there are many factors that go beyond the average fan's comprehension, such as coverage and knowing your routes.

"The hardest thing about catching a pass is the concentration," said Strozier. "If you turn your eyes for a split second you could drop it."

While he also led the team in receiving last year, Strozier improved his game through relentless work and preparation, particularly running continuous routes in practice.

"The off-season workout program really helped," said Strozier, "and we changed the offense around to a spread offense."

When asked what he'd like future Alcovy teams to understand regarding the framework he and his teammates built, Strozier said hard work ethics, never giving up and playing hard.

Rightfully so, those three ingredients are vital for any program at any level to be successful, which allowed the Tigers to win two more games this year compared to last season.

Admittedly, Strozier will miss playing prep ball with all of his friends that he grew up with. However, the young wideout has a bright future ahead of him at the next level, and several colleges are interested in him.

"I'm going to miss playing football with those close to me over the past two years," said Strozier.