{
  "id": 1742872,
  "title": "This La Quinta two-way wrecking ball is No. 3 on the 2026 Elite 11",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/this-la-quinta-two-way-wrecking-ball-is-no-3-on-the-2026-elite-11",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T16:00:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/la-quinta-two-way-wrecking-160053982.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colton LaCrone, a senior from La Quinta High School, stands as the No. 3 pick on The Desert Sun's 2026 Elite 11 countdown. LaCrone's prowess lies in his ability to run the ball effectively, as evidenced by his 701 yards and four touchdowns in last season's five league games, giving him an average of 113.6 yards per game. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing just under 200 pounds, LaCrone is a powerful tailback, adept at contributing to both the offense and defense. Last season, he was an all-league and All-CIF-SS selection, playing a crucial role in La Quinta's playoff push. Despite potential roster losses this season, LaCrone is expected to continue his impressive performance, possibly surpassing 1,000 yards and a dozen touchdowns. His talent extends beyond rushing, as he's also a key defensive linebacker. Andrew John, a sports and recreation writer for The Desert Sun, highlights LaCrone's potential to be \"this La Quinta two-way wrecking ball\" in the upcoming season.",
  "summary": "All-league running back and linebacker Colton LaCrone will help lead the Blackhawks as they chase a DEL title",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}