It’s time to start my annual countdown of top sports stories of the year. As always I remind you that this is my list only. It is totally opinion oriented and you may have the top ten in a different order or different stories all together. I only consider area stories and I do not go back and research so I will, without a doubt, leave something out that surely belongs… that being said we will get started with #10.
10- Keenan Haynes misses almost entire Senior season.
Unfortunately not all top stories are happy stories. This is proof that sometimes bad things unfortunately happen to really good people.
The off season held a lot of promise for Reeds Spring Football. They were coming off another 10 win season and had once again pushed Bolivar. Many thought this might be the year they get by the Liberators and win the COC.
A big part of that was the return of Keenan Haynes. Haynes was moving to fullback and looked ready to thrive in that new role. He was also set to return at free safety to lead the defense. (two weeks before the opener he was moved to outside linebacker)
He picked up the new defensive position quickly and looked ready to roll in it. And offensively he looked like a natural at the fullback spot. A monster year running the ball seemed to be a certain. So much so that I honestly remember thinking that 1300 yards and 16 TDs were not going to be a stretch.
Things started out well in the opener against Mt Vernon. Even though they loaded the defense to stop him; he was over the century mark in the fourth quarter. Then, a run up the middle, just like the others. Except this time he went down and stayed down for a bit. He was able to get off the field but no one knew, at that point, just how bad it was.
I remember going into the coaches office after the game and hearing the news of what they feared the injury was. I can just imagine my face, as my jaw dropped. I remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach. Yes, for what it did to the team, but even more the feeling of what it did to Keenan. This was really not going to happen to him, was it?
Got the news a day or two later that indeed he had broken his leg and was likely out for the season, or at least the regular season.
To his credit (and if you know him at all it was no surprise) He still was still right there with his team every step of the way. Did not miss practices or meetings (unless he was at the Dr).
And one of the best moments of the year, no doubt, was seeing #25 out there vs Mt Vernon in the District Semi-Finals. He was far from 100% but the dude battled back and was able to get back on the field. He played two games all year and both of them against Mt Vernon. Seeing him out there was incredible. He was able to finish his career on the field instead of on the sidelines. Just another testament to the battle in this guy.
