NATRONA HEIGHTS, Pa. — Ask Highlands running back Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg about a moment he’ll remember long after his high school football career ends, and he doesn’t mention a touchdown, a record-breaking performance or his first major college scholarship offer.
Instead, he remembers a conversation.
Before entering his freshman year, Owen-Cratsenberg sat down with Highlands head coach Matt Bonislawski to discuss responsibility, personal growth and the importance of surrounding himself with the right people.
It wasn’t about reading defenses or improving his footwork.
It was about becoming a better young man.
“I’ll remember my eighth-grade year going into my ninth-grade year,” Owen-Cratsenberg told Nittany Sports Now. “We had a meeting, and we sat down. He just talked me through how I needed to be acting from then on and who I should be hanging around.
“We had a really deep conversation about that. I feel like it helped me a lot to get to where I am now.”
Years later, Owen-Cratsenberg has become one of Western Pennsylvania’s most electrifying football players, rewriting the Highlands record book while attracting scholarship offers from Penn State, Wisconsin and Syracuse, among others.
Yet the conversation that helped shape his development remains more meaningful than any individual accomplishment.
What makes that memory particularly revealing is that Bonislawski, interviewed separately, reflected on the same relationship.
“I think just spending time with him and teaching him, not just about the game plan, but about how things are going to be for him,” Bonislawski said.
“I can tell when I speak to him that he listens and comprehends what I’m telling him about who he surrounds himself with and what things are going to be like for him, even now and in the future.”
For Owen-Cratsenberg, football has created opportunities that once seemed distant. But understanding what makes him special requires looking beyond the rushing yards, touchdowns and recruiting attention.
It requires understanding the people who shaped him and the future he’s determined to build.
The Emergence of ‘Run TOC’
Twenty-five years ago, Bonislawski was the quarterback generating excitement throughout the Highlands community.
Now he’s mentoring a young man whose accomplishments have attracted attention from major college football programs.
The former Highlands standout sees something extraordinary in his running back, although he laughs at comparisons between their athletic abilities.
“In terms of athletic ability, he’s a lot better athlete than I was, and it’s not even debatable,” Bonislawski said. “Not even close.”
Owen-Cratsenberg became Highlands’ all-time leading rusher and joined an exclusive group of WPIAL players to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
His record-breaking campaign included a 315-yard, four-touchdown performance.
Then came Friday night’s matchup against Freeport.
Despite Highlands’ 24-16 loss, Owen-Cratsenberg delivered another remarkable performance, rushing 29 times for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
His 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter briefly restored Highlands’ lead, 16-14.
By night’s end, he had surpassed 4,000 career rushing yards and increased his season touchdown total to 30.
Through nine games, Owen-Cratsenberg had accumulated 2,304 rushing yards on 238 carries.
His performances have fueled a growing movement around the program known as “Run TOC.”
For Owen-Cratsenberg, however, the attention represents an opportunity to elevate his teammates.
“It’s great to have all this attention and to bring it to my teammates and this program,” Owen-Cratsenberg said.
“With the attention that I feel like I’m bringing here, I feel like I can give that to a lot of my teammates. With everyone and the coaches being in the stands, I feel like when my teammates make plays, they can see that, too.”
His running style blends vision, balance and acceleration, allowing him to exploit openings before defenders can react.
He studies Barry Sanders, Reggie Bush, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, drawing inspiration from some of football’s most dynamic running backs.
But when asked what part of his game deserves greater recognition, Owen-Cratsenberg immediately identified his contact balance.
“The ability to break tackles and stay up,” he said. “When you’re going down, you can use your hand to pick yourself back up.”
Bonislawski believes his running back’s understanding of the game is equally impressive.
“He’s not just out there running,” Bonislawski said. “He’s calculated in his moves, and he really helps out the offensive line and the receivers by setting up his blocks.
“He’s a really strong runner. He very rarely gets brought down by the first guy. Once he gets moving, his yards after contact are impressive.”
The production hasn’t surprised his coach.
“Nothing he does surprises me anymore, honestly,” Bonislawski said. “We’ve seen things in practice, and he just does things that not many guys can do.”
The Work Nobody Sees
The statistics explain why college coaches are interested in Owen-Cratsenberg.
They don’t entirely explain who he is.
Following Highlands’ loss to Freeport, I had a chance encounter at a local Sheetz that offered another perspective.
A police officer who also owns a gym recognized me and immediately wanted to discuss the Highlands running back.
He described Owen-Cratsenberg’s remarkable strength, including his ability to squat 500 pounds with apparent ease.
But what impressed him most wasn’t the weight Owen-Cratsenberg could lift.
It was something he had done away from football.
The officer shared how Owen-Cratsenberg repaired a lawn mower and used it to cut grass for people who needed assistance, refusing payment for the work.
For a teenager attracting major college attention, the gesture offered a revealing glimpse of his priorities.
Bonislawski sees that same commitment in his everyday interactions with Owen-Cratsenberg.
“He works out constantly, and he’s always looking to improve,” Bonislawski said.
“There’s never a moment where he’s not working out, watching film, studying, learning or doing different things to become a better football player and a better person.”
Despite the growing attention, Bonislawski believes his running back has remained grounded.
“Tev’s very, very quiet, mild-mannered and just a great kid,” Bonislawski said. “He’s very respectful. You won’t hear anyone say anything bad about him.”
Those qualities have contributed to the culture Bonislawski has spent five years establishing at Highlands.
“This is easily our most enjoyable year,” Bonislawski said. “We’ve had successful seasons, nine wins in the past, playoff wins and different things like that.
“But this is the most team-oriented group we’ve had. There’s no drama, there’s no arguing amongst each other.”
For Bonislawski, Owen-Cratsenberg’s willingness to lead without demanding attention has been every bit as valuable as his rushing production.
Penn State Enters the Picture
Since arriving at Penn State, head coach Matt Campbell has emphasized the importance of recruiting players whose character complements their athletic abilities.
Owen-Cratsenberg’s remarkable junior season has placed him firmly on the Nittany Lions’ recruiting radar.
His scholarship offers include Penn State, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Cincinnati, UConn, Toledo and Bowling Green.
Penn State’s involvement has been particularly meaningful.
Owen-Cratsenberg has developed relationships with running backs coach Savon Huggins and recruiter Tank Smith.
“It’s a really great place to be,” Owen-Cratsenberg said. “It’s a great environment. Coach Huggins is a great coach and a good guy.
“Tank Smith, my recruiter, we talk a lot. He has a lot of advice to give me. Everyone on the staff has great advice.”
What has resonated with Owen-Cratsenberg is the staff’s emphasis on development beyond football.
“Their thing is that they want you to be a better person all around, not just a better running back,” he said.
That message closely mirrors the lessons Bonislawski has emphasized throughout his development.
The relationship with Penn State took another step forward when Owen-Cratsenberg attended the Nittany Lions’ White Out against USC at Beaver Stadium.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Asked to describe the experience, he needed only two words.
“Oh, insane.”
Could he envision himself playing in front of more than 100,000 fans?
“Yeah, I could.”
Although Penn State wasn’t necessarily a program he followed closely growing up, his interest has increased throughout the recruiting process.
“My connection has developed a lot more through the recruiting process,” Owen-Cratsenberg said. “I did follow them a little, but nothing too crazy.”
He remains interested in learning more about the coaching staff and the opportunities available to incoming players.
“I just want to pick the brains of the coaches a little more, just to see where their heads are at in terms of who’s playing early and stuff like that,” he said.
Bonislawski understands the importance of helping his running back navigate the process.
Having experienced college recruitment himself, he recognizes how dramatically the landscape has changed.
“I’ve told him how it was back when I was in high school and how it’s changed,” Bonislawski said.
“Tev’s a pretty detail-oriented guy. He’s going to do his due diligence and work through everything.”
A Decision Bigger Than Football
Owen-Cratsenberg isn’t rushing toward a college commitment.
He understands the significance of his decision and intends to evaluate his options carefully.
“After the season, I’m going to sit down and go over those things,” Owen-Cratsenberg said.
“Some things that are going to go into me committing to a school would be getting on the field early, the education, how the coaching staff is and just how much I like it there.”
Academically, he has identified business as an area of interest, although he hasn’t settled on a specific concentration.
His emphasis on education reflects the influence of his family, particularly his mother, Heather.
During Highlands’ game against Freeport, I spoke with Heather about the values she has worked to instill in Tevin and his siblings.
Her message has remained consistent: Whatever they pursue, they should strive to become the best versions of themselves while preparing for life beyond their immediate ambitions.
Football has seemingly always been part of Tevin’s life.
Heather recalled bringing him to high school football games when he was barely a day old.
In her eyes, he was born to play the game.
His older brother, Allan, has also played an important role in that journey.
Allan competed collegiately at VMI and introduced Tevin to the environment surrounding college football, bringing his younger brother around the locker room.
Those experiences helped develop an early fascination with the sport.
Now Allan gets to watch his younger brother experience opportunities of his own.
He described watching Tevin blossom into a special talent as a treat, particularly knowing the work behind his development.
Owen-Cratsenberg values having someone in his family who understands the challenges of college football.
“My brother also played in college,” Owen-Cratsenberg said. “He’s had these experiences, so if I ever have a question for him, he’s the one who can answer it.”
Heather’s influence remains central to his journey.
“My mom, she’s just there to support me a lot,” Owen-Cratsenberg said. “She’s really always been there.”
Bonislawski has witnessed that support system firsthand.
Before Owen-Cratsenberg attended Penn State’s White Out, the Highlands coach met with his family to discuss the recruiting process and what they could expect moving forward.
“I met with his mom a couple of weeks ago, before he went up to the White Out, and we sat down and discussed some things, how everything plays out, what to expect and things like that,” Bonislawski said.
“He has a good support system. He understands the big picture and what he’s looking to do.”
Running Toward Something Greater
Owen-Cratsenberg’s phone background features legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and a quote that reflects his outlook on life.
“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.”
Those words serve as a reminder of what he’s working toward.
For all the attention surrounding his recruitment, there’s something straightforward about what motivates him.
He wants to improve.
He wants to help his teammates.
And he wants to create a better future for his family.
“What drives me is that every single day, I just want to be one percent better,” Owen-Cratsenberg said.
“I want a better life for my whole entire family.”
That ambition provides context for the early mornings in the weight room, the film study and the willingness to listen when Bonislawski offers advice.
He also wants to leave something meaningful behind at Highlands.
The Golden Rams have enjoyed successful seasons under Bonislawski, but Owen-Cratsenberg wants to help deliver a conference championship and an opportunity to play at Acrisure Stadium.
“Our goal as a team is really to win the conference,” Owen-Cratsenberg said. “We haven’t done that in I don’t even know how many years, but that would be great, to win the conference.
“Obviously, playing at Acrisure Stadium, too. We just really want to go far as a team.”
The influence of his success already extends beyond the players sharing the field with him.
Bonislawski believes younger athletes throughout the Highlands community are watching Owen-Cratsenberg and beginning to imagine what might be possible for themselves.
“Just the motivating factor of seeing him, knowing they can be like him and seeing someone from their school make it, is encouraging for those young guys,” Bonislawski said.
“It gives them hope.”
For a community with a proud football tradition, Owen-Cratsenberg has become another reason to believe in the program’s future.
Yet the most important part of his story might have nothing to do with the next touchdown, scholarship offer or eventual college commitment.
It goes back to that conversation before his freshman year.
A coach sat down with a young player and explained that the choices he made, the people he surrounded himself with and the way he carried himself would help determine his future.
Years later, both men still remember it.
Now Owen-Cratsenberg is approaching a decision that could change his life.
Penn State is among the programs offering him that opportunity, and Campbell’s emphasis on character and personal development aligns with the values that have shaped the Highlands standout.
But wherever Owen-Cratsenberg ultimately plays college football, his ambitions extend beyond the sport.
He wants to make his family proud, help others and leave Highlands better than he found it.
“I want to leave this place different from what I came into,” Owen-Cratsenberg said.
For a young man who has already rewritten the Highlands record book, that might be the most meaningful goal of all.
