Green grass - white lines every five yards - yellow posts in both endzones. The smell of dirt and sweat filled the air. The big red Northview “N” in the middle of the field made me sick. A slight wind was at my back. The sun setting on the horizon, it couldn’t have been a better clear fall night. The fourth quarter in a close game and I was exactly where I wanted to be; down on that field with my teammates. I had played my hardest all night to give my team a chance to win and we were so close. “All I gotta do is throw the ball towards the sideline so it gives us a chance to get out of bounds and stop the clock.” I thought.
I was dropping back into the pocket that my line made for me to throw from. I scanned the outside routes but all of them were covered like a blanket covers a baby. The defensive backs were not giving up an inch. I had to throw to ball to the middle of the field, and I saw Carter running the post route. I threw the ball as soon as he made his cut towards the inside and hit him in stride. He caught it and kept churning his feet and was finally taken down. We had gained twenty four yards; fourteen more than we needed for the first down.
I called for a hurry up offense because the clock had stopped shortly to move the chains; then it was going to start again. We had to hurry up, we were down by three points with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. I had a bunch formation to my right and they were all running routes. I was going to take a five step drop back and then throw it to whichever one of them that was open. I called my cadences quickly with more urgency and confidence.
“Down, set, hit!” I yelled at the top of my lungs so my teammates could hear me over the roar of the crowd. I dropped back then all of the sudden all the crowd was silent and I was in my zone. All I could hear was the grunts of my linemen and the pads cracking together. All of my receivers were covered and I was forced to run out of the pocket and make a good throw into tight coverage. I was being chased by the entire defense. His arms wrapped my legs up and my ankles twisted under me and I was going down. I saw the next guy coming but I couldn't get out of the way. He jumped and pulverized me like an orange in a orange juicer. Suddenly my ears were ringing as his facemask pounded into mine. I fell to the ground and saw stars and blackness.
As I woke up, my head was throbbing with pain. I felt alone and all I could think about was, “where am I?” There was no sound, no smell, no taste. Nothing. I turned my head and there were people standing all around me. There was this guy kneeling right next to me.
“Who are you?” I said confused.
“It's me, Luke. Your coach,” he said with a sad look in his eyes and a frown on his face.
I had no idea where I was, what I was doing, who I was with, or even what time it was. I looked around and the lights were blindingly bright as if I were looking at the sun. The air was cold and I started to shiver. I stood up with some help but my peripheral vision was starting to go dark. Darker, darker, darker with every slow step that I took towards the bench until it was complete darkness. Then I collapsed again right there on that Northview “N” in the middle of the field.
Again I woke up and my head throbbing much worse this time like an elephant stepped on it. I was even colder than last time.
“Get a car to take him to the hospital!” Somebody said.
I turned my head and there was a green John Deer gator right next to me. It's engine made a small hum and I was lifted to my feet by more strangers this time and I was placed in the front seat on it. My foot tapping on the metal ground of the gator uncontrollably. The gator brought me over to the sideline where the truck was waiting for me on the running track that went around the football field.
That truck brought me to the emergency room, I was placed in a wheelchair, and wheeled to a room. Every little whisper sounded like a scream. Every little bump felt like a bowling ball falling on my head. Every little light looked brighter than the sun. When I got to the room they laid me in the bed and poked a needle into the vein in my arm for the IV.
It was a terrible experience and I hope I never get hurt again. It made me realize how much I appreciate football and all sports. I never want to take any activities for granted anymore because the doctor said that if I was hit a little bit higher that I could've had major brain injuries and never be able to play football or any sports anymore. I wouldn't have been able to do most things that I used to take for granted. I continue to play football and baseball, blessed with every opportunity I get.