The Pioneers battled through yet another gut check last Friday against the Tecumseh Arrows. It was a see-saw battle of trading score for score each quarter with the Pioneers edging them out with 2 scores in the 4th to their one. The final score ended up 35-28 to keep the pioneers playoff hopes alive.
Tecumseh lost the toss and the pioneers deferred their possession until the 2nd 1/2. The Pioneer defense started out looking pretty strong, and Nolan was on fire to start. He had 3 early tackles, and was looking like he was going to have a fantastic game. Then on the next play, he had wrapped up the running back for another tackle when he came under friendly fire and an Alder helmet coming in on the assist landed right on his left elbow. Over the years of watching him play, I've never seen him take himself out of a game, but almost immeadiately he got up and headed for the sideline with his left arm hanging loosely. I saw him head straight for the trainer and Dr Adams met them there. After quite a bit of a examination, the trainers started taping him up with KT and medical tape. A few snaps later he was back in on the offensive side of the ball. The next possession after that kid was back on field every snap.
At this point we were pretty concerned, as we sit back watching him play with only full use of 1 arm. When 1/2 time came I went down and spoke to Dr Adams, and coach Glick. Dr Adams assured me that his bone structure was totally fine and that he had possibly slightly torn his bicep and strained his tendon. I ask coach Glick if he was "okay". Coach Glick smiled at me and said "No, but it's Nolan, so yeah he's fine." The kid came out in the 2nd half and was nearly an unstoppable force. The Arrows attempted to run away from him most of the game but he still finished with double digit tackles and a sack.
As a father, it really has been easy to be prideful about how tough he is and how effective he has been this year. Its been a lot of fun... But as a parent, it's been really difficult to see him get hurt this season, sacrifice his body for his teammates and continue to play through it. Just today I ask him how his arm was feeling and he said, I'm fine, I'll be good by Friday. His typical response.... After the game, I met him at the locker room and said this. "I love you man, you are seriously the toughest kid I know."
Well anther week has gone by and these guys have proven again and again, they can win when the chips are down or the game is on the line. This really could be a great playoff run with the way these guys play under pressure. A few short weeks will tell.
Next up Springfield Shawnee - Lets get it on! (Not sure we're ready for this but its senior night)
Getting a pep talk pre kick off
Getting worked on in the first quarter
Final Check - get back in there kid! (Do it with one arm!)
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