MacKnightH1213

In a small town in Texas, a fantastic running back, Tristan Connor, was looking forward to a future in college, and possibly even professional, football. As a freshman, he started on varsity, amazing all who watched him as he weaved in and out of the defense and into the gaps, catching the passes and scoring touchdown after touchdown. As he progressed through high school, he made sure he stayed caught up in his classes, and worked hard on and off the field to improve his game. Now it was his senior year, his time to shine, and show all the recruits what he was capable of.

The first few weeks of the preseason were like most…tough and hot. The constant conditioning and skill work, while all eyes are on you, trying to decide if you are “good enough” to be on the team. For anyone who has ever been to Texas, you are well aware of how hot it is in the late summer, and running constantly through that weather is not to be desired, but everyone pushes through because, in the heartland of high school football, you have to make a name for yourself, make yourself look better than the person standing beside you. This was not Tristan’s main goal though, as he had already made a name for himself, his goal was to score a touchdown in every game throughout the season. He wasn’t focused on the “now”, but rather on what was to come. This would later come back to haunt him as he progressed through the season, and during one particular game which would change his life forever.

As preseason came to a close, the coach was ready to announce the starting lineup for the season. Tristan was indeed in the starting lineup, with his best friend William Darnell in the second-string running back position, just in case something was to happen. They continued with practice into the week of the first game. That first Friday of the season, they had an away game, fifteen minutes down the road at their rival. Although early in the season, this was going to be the defining moment for their team, were they going to states? Or was their season going to fall down the tubes? When they arrived, everyone ready to go, they won the first game as if they were playing against a group of ten-year-olds, they could already tell this was going to be a special season. Also, Tristan was one-twelfth of the way to achieving his goal, as he ran the ball 72 yards to score the first touchdown of the game, and the season.

The next week at practice, they focused on passing long up the line, and setting screens to allow the quarterback more time. There was little focus on defense and blocking, as this was a skill that was executed so well during the first game. That Friday night, the team jogged out onto the field, just like normal, ready to play a team from Austin, known for their pass rushing. Of course, no one was concerned at that point, because their offensive line had also had an amazing start to the season. This view on the game was quickly changed as the opponent trampled the offensive line, succeeding on 9 sacks in the first half. During this time though, the quarterback, Justin Christian, did make a few great throws up the line, one of which to Tristan Connor, who ran it in for a touchdown…two-twelfths.

Throughout the next 5 weeks, the team did pretty well, winning all but one of their games, and showing everyone that this was their year. Going into the 8th game of the season, they were 5-2, with only the easy teams left to face. Tristan was keeping up with his goal, scoring a touchdown in all but one game, in which he scored two. He was looking great, and was beginning to get calls about recruiting. During the eighth game, there was an incident, a tragedy, a life-changing miscall that would completely cause someone to reroute their life.

About 7 minutes into the second half of the game, the quarterback, Justin, was looking out wide to the cornerback. That pass was made and they progressed up the field. The play clock was running out and their coach had not yet called a play, but Justin knew who he was going to pass to. He hiked the ball and looked down the line. Just as he had planned, Tristan was there, waiting for the pass. Unfortunately, as he was focused on his future rather than what was currently going on, he was more focused on the end zone and the ball coming to him rather than the buff defensive end making a bee-line at him. Nonetheless, he caught the ball and hit straight for the end zone. Sadly, he never made it to the end zone, for as he reached the 6 yard line he was tackled from behind, a hit emphasizing contact to the head, which knocked him out.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Tristan had ups and downs with headaches and nausea, wishing the pain would be over, so he could get back to football. He never did get back to football. He was examined by a doctor and told that if he was to sustain another hit of that type, he might suffer trauma much more severe than what he currently was, at which point his mother decided that he should stop. On that day, Tristan Connor’s football career was terminated...