ED MCELROY Chaney running back prefers offense, touchdowns, points

He has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game this season.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- There's a simple reason Chaney High running back Ed McElroy prefers playing offense.
"I like scoring touchdowns," he said.
The Cowboy senior has been a happy man this season.
McElroy has scored 17 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,119 yards -- including 306 yards and five touchdowns in last Friday's win over Poland -- to lead Chaney to a 4-2 record.
"I've been here 25 years and I don't ever recall someone here running for that many yards," Chaney coach Ron Berdis said. "We have the utmost respect for Poland and their defense, so for him to do that against them is pretty impressive."
McElroy, a two-year starter and three-year letterman, ran for 1,400 yards last season and leads the City Series in rushing and scoring this season. He and the Cowboys play Cardinal Mooney tonight at Stambaugh Stadium.
McElroy (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) benches 255 and has run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, he said. He has garnered interest from several Division I colleges, including Boston College and Missouri.
Improvement significant
"I hit the weight room a lot harder this off-season and I ran track for the first time last spring to get faster," he said. "I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to improve."
McElroy has gotten stronger and mentally tougher in the past two years, Berdis said.
"The take on him as a sophomore was that he was more of a scat-back," Berdis added. "Since then, he has become a true tailback."
The Cowboys have a new quarterback -- junior Justin Hood -- for the third straight year. Juan Serrano graduated last year and Brad Smith, now the starting quarterback at Missouri, graduated two years ago. Because of that, McElroy has become the key part of Chaney's offense.
"Whenever you have a younger quarterback, you rely on your senior leadership to take some of the pressure off him," Berdis said. "Eddie draws the attention of the defense, which allows Justin to get some quiet yards."
McElroy has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game this season. He's got good speed and quickness, but what separates him from most backs is his vision, Berdis said.
"He guesses right most of the time," Berdis said. "I don't think that's something you can teach. You can coach someone up to a point, but the rest is innate."
McElroy credited his linemen for his success, specifically Chris Hlinka, Salih Robinson, Ed Molina, Kevin Merrell, Josh Terlecky and Keilen Dykes.
"I just want to give thanks to them," McElroy said. "And to all my great receivers blocking for me."
scalzo@vindy.com