COMEBACK 90-YARD RUN CAPS
DEARDORFF'S RECOVERY
Publication:
Published: 10/25/1986
Page: P2B
Headline: COMEBACK 90-YARD RUN CAPS DEARDORFF'S RECOVERY
Byline: JOHN MAWYER
DuPont senior Jeff Deardorff intercepted a Nitro pass
and ran it.
back 90 yards for a touchdown to highlight a 35-14
homecoming victory
over the Wildcats, solidifying the Panthers' hold as the state's No
.1-rated Class AAA team.
Deardorff wasn't supposed to be playing. In fact, two
years ago
his doctors told him he might walk with a limp for the rest of
his life following a severe knee injury.
"The doctor said that it was the worst knee injury he had ever
witnessed,' said Jeff's dad, Butch Deardorff, who is
School
"Jeff injured the knee in the first junior varsity game of his
sophomore season. Following surgery, we weren't sure he would walk
correctly, let alone dream he would play football again.
"And I'll tell you the truth, I cross my fingers every game
because I realize how damaged his knee really was.'
Jeff's father isn't the only surprised but happy recipient of a
young man's dedication to overcome an injury. His coach, Dick
Whitman, is happy, too.
"I'll be honest. After talking with the doctork,
I didn't
think he ever had a chance to play football or any other competitive
sport again,' Whitman said.
"But after seeing that kid work religiously on his.
rehabilitation program that following spring, I was
convinced that he
had proved us all wrong.
"Jeff is a special person. He possesses that inner strength
and desire that many people don't have.
"He is a born leader. He was voted our team captain this year
and believe me, that was very rewarding, watching him
run those 90
yards tonight.'
But nobody was happier about those 90 long yards than Jeff
Deardorff.
"That was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my
high school career, on or off the field,' he said.
"Scott Meadows and I were talking before the game about how
nice it would be to pick off a pass and return it for a
touchdown. And what's ironic, I got my first high school
interception against Nitro last year.
"I can't thank Dr. (David) Santrock and my
physical therapist,
Chuck Simpson, enough for their assistance. They gave me an
opportunity to play again and, fortunately, things have worked out.
.'Deardorff would have hated to have missed the
Panthers' big season
"It's great to be playing on this team,' he said. "We are
like a big happy family. As ninth graders, we were 8-0 and county
champions and we know what it takes to win.'
DuPont's Donnie Jones scored on touchdown runs of 36 and 29.
yards while picking up 87 yards on only seven carries.
The Panthers'
Tom Canterbury was the game's leading rusher as he piled up 89 yards
on 13 carries and scored on a one-yard plunge. Quarterback Bobby
Miller completed the scoring by finding Scott Garretson on a 15-yard
touchdown pass. Maurice Snelling was a perfect
5-for-5 on extra
point kicks.
Nitro was led by junior quarterback Scott Dixon who played most
of the second half and completed six of nine passes for 114 yards,
including a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tim Cruse. Steve Lucas paced
the Wildcat ground attack with 36 yards on eight carries.
DuPont, 7-0-1, will put its undefeated record on the line next
week against the 6-3 Charleston Mountain Lions, a team that whipped
the Panthers 35-7 a year ago.
Nitro, 2-5, will play at home next Friday night against East
Bank.