 
 |
|
High School Quarterback Walks Away from Injury and Pro Career
A small town in the Midwest had the unfortunate distinction of having the "losingest" high school football team in the entire state. The team had a brief heyday during the 1970s but from 1981 to 1987 hadn't won a single game. That would change when an unbreakable young man came to town and enrolled in 1988.
Sean Roberts had moved several times during his scholastic career. His father was an active military officer and moved his family all over the United States. By the time the family settled in this small Midwest town, Sean was a sophomore in high school and quite the accomplished athlete.
Sean had starred in a South Florida youth baseball league, where he dominated as a southpaw sinker pitcher while maintaining a batting average above .400. In California, he'd been a swimmer and played water polo, breaking many records for his age. He had also tried his hand at junior boxing for a year in the Pacific Northwest, where he was never defeated and won 15 of his 24 matches by knockout.
By the time Sean got to the Midwest, he was eager to give football a chance. Instead of being discouraged by his high school's pathetic record, he talked the varsity football coach into letting him try out as quarterback.
In his first practices, Sean quickly learned how to use his throwing arm. In his first game, he threw for 324 yards and ran in two touchdowns himself. Suddenly the losers started to win. The season sped by, each win making the team stronger and stronger, and soon the state finals loomed.
In one game near the end of the regular season, a rival team that had already been mathematically eliminated from the league playoffs decided to hit where it hurt, setting its sights on Sean. Tackle after brutal tackle took its toll, and Sean was blindsided at every turn. During halftime, the coach and medical technicians inspected Sean from head to foot to see if there was any reason he shouldn't continue. Remarkably, there were no visible signs of injury, and Sean stayed in the game.
The final minutes were devastating. Relentless blitzkriegs by the defense sent Sean flying through the air like a broken rag doll. But Sean amazed the crowd and got back on his feet every time. The clock ticked down to the last 30 seconds of the game. Sean's team was down by five and needed one more touch-down to win. Sean drew back into the pocket and spotted an open receiver five yards away. At that moment, a 275-pound linebacker aimed for Sean's knees and connected with Sean's lower body. A sickening pop and Sean went down, sending the ball flying. Stumbling, Sean recovered the fumbled ball from the ground and hurled it to his open receiver, who made the catch. The receiver carried the ball into the end zone for the winning touchdown, bringing the crowd to its feet in uproarious celebration. | |
 | |
|
|
|
