FAULKTON – Garrett Cramer is a double-edged sword.

The Faulkton senior is smooth and patient on offense, and strong and powerful on defense. Put it together and it’s easy to see why Cramer is a key member of the 10-1 Trojans, who will be playing in the Class 9B state football championship game on Thursday.

“Offensively, as a runner, I would say he’s more of a patient runner. He likes to look for the hole and kind of run to space,” said Faulkton coach Shayne Geditz. “Where on defense, he’s not afraid to come up and hit you. He’s not afraid of contact.”

Geditz said it’s almost like Cramer has completely different mindsets, depending on which side of the ball he is on.

“It’s almost two different personalities,” Geditz said, “as a runner where he’s more smooth and running to space, where on defense he likes to come up and hit you.”

While he has a major impact whether as a running back or an outside linebacker, Cramer has a preference of positions.

“Personally, I like playing offense better,” Cramer said. “I’m kind of greedy. I like running the ball as much as I can.”

Cramer, who has rushed for nearly 1,000 yards on the season, credits his linemen for his running accomplishments.

“They’re great,” Cramer said. “They work really hard in practice, probably harder than anyone else.”

Like all members of the Trojans, the linemen have taken to watching film and trying to figure out the best way to gain an advantage.

“They study a lot to know what they need to do,” Cramer said. “They communicate on the line a lot so that plays don’t blow up. They just protect me. They’re really good.”

Film study is an important aspect of the Faulkton program.

Geditz said that watching film is much easier than it used to be and that he encourages the players to study opponents in preparation of upcoming games.

“You can watch a lot of film in a short amount of time with technology. We just feel it gives our kids such an edge if they use that technology to make them better,” Geditz said. “We always say for the test on Friday, or this week the test on Thursday, if you study you’re always going to do better. It’s no different than school. If you put some time in your test, your scores are usually higher.”

Cramer is also a big factor on a defense that has not allowed a point in three postseason games this year. He said he enjoys that side of the ball because he loves to hit people and the response of his teammates that goes along with it.

Does applying a huge hit feel better than a touchdown?

“No,” Cramer said after a slight pause. “A touchdown still feels better.”

Cramer is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in wrestling and track and field. Geditz is also Cramer’s coach in wrestling.

“The mindset for wrestling is just different,” Cramer said. “No matter what coach throws at me in football, it will be pretty easy for me to just handle.”

Geditz said that Cramer’s background in wrestling actually carries over to the gridiron.

“The wrestling, I think it helps with his tackling a lot. He’s quick,” Geditz said. “He’s got good level changes in wrestling. I think that helps with his tackling. He’s a low tackler. He’s able to lower his level and make tackles.”

Again, Cramer and his teammates are always trying to find a better way by watching opponents and the results are evident on the field.

“The team has been studying really well on each team we play,” Cramer said. “I think our defense is probably the best it’s been in a long time. We’re just really good on defense, so we stop most of the teams that we play.”

Cramer said that football is his favorite sport because of the team aspect, and he likes being with his teammates.

That team unity has propelled the Trojans to the brink of a state championship.

“Football is such a team sport. It takes many individuals to make the team, but it takes everybody to be a team,” Geditz said. “We have eight seniors this year that have led us in so many ways. They have all done such a great job helping us reach the level we have reached so far.”

Now, Cramer would love nothing more than to raise that level one more notch and bring home a state title.

“That would be just wonderful, senior year, state championship,” Cramer said. “That would be great.”