Post by elonfirefighter on Sept 26, 2007 21:52:05 GMT -5
a little plug from my highschool, one thing to note there the spitting immage of elon. little wins, till new coach second year off to a great start only loss was dbl OT to 3A champ 9 (Souths 4A)
HELMETS ADORNED IN PINK FOR GAME AT INDEPENDENCE
Sabres rally around QB's mom -- a cancer survivorAt S. Meck, inspiration goes both ways
LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
lwertz@charlotteobserver.com
It's been 115 days.
Sheila Yokeley remembers exactly when doctors told her she had a rare form of breast cancer: June 4.
She remembers all the painful trips to the doctor that followed. She remembers the surgery to remove both her breasts. She remembers the depression that followed. And the recovery.
Most of all, she said she'll remember how the South Mecklenburg High football team has helped her get through it. Yokeley's son, Jey, is the Sabres' starting quarterback.
"Cancer doesn't just affect one member of the family," she said. "It affects the whole family. And this team is like family to us, and the love and support we've received from the team and their families is just unbelievable."
Yokeley's voice cracks. She pauses.
"It's just unbelievable."
Through what's become a magic carpet ride of a season, the Sabres have pretty much adopted Yokeley as team mascot.
They plan to wear pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness on the backs of their helmets in Friday's game at Independence.
That game might be the biggest the school has played since 1994, the last time South Meck was in the playoffs.
"Football is a rough sport," Yokeley said. "We've grown up with it. But it's that gentle tender side that I've seen from this team that has me convinced that's the reason this program is turning around and these guys are winning."
Last year, South was 2-9 under first-year coach James Martin.
This season, with 14 starters back, the Sabres have mastered Martin's misdirection running offense, averaging more than 300 yards rushing per game. South is 4-1 overall and tied with Independence, Butler and Providence for first place in Southwestern 4A.
Not bad for a team that was 13-71 from 1998 through 2006.
"I thought with what we had coming back, we could've easily gone into the Independence game 5-0," Martin said. "That was my goal as head coach and our challenge to the players. We knew every game would be tough, but we knew we had the talent."
The Sabres are big. Jey Yokeley is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback. Fullback Spencer Shuey is 6-3, 250. Lineman Trey Strickland is 6-7, 317. South pounds teams with its running game and makes opponents play more defense than they'd like.
And with every win, the school spirit intensifies.
Martin said his classes sometimes get interrupted with students singing "We are the Sabres!" in a courtyard near his classroom.
"The teachers are telling me that they've never seen this kind of enthusiasm, and some of them have been here for more than 20 years," Martin said.
Jey Yokeley, the quarterback, said he definitely feels it.
"Man, the student body is electric," he said. "Kids I don't even know are like, `Good game Friday night.' Everywhere you go, security people, janitors, teachers or students, everybody's wanting to talk football. It's a good feeling."
He said something else has made him feel good, too -- the way his team is looking after his mother.
Sheila was diagnosed after she went in for a routine mammogram but complained of breast tenderness in June. The regular mammogram showed nothing, but because of her tenderness, the doctor suggested a special digital test, which she had two days later.
It revealed Sheila had Stage 2 breast cancer, and it came as a big shock.
"It was hard to hear that news," Jey Yokeley said. "I know what cancer can do to you and to a family. Without this football team, I don't know what I'd do. I feel like my teammates are my brothers. Coach Martin is like a father figure. Every time I need to talk, I can come to him."
Yokeley said playing through this season has given him motivation to be strong for his mom. When he scores a touchdown, he always points to the stands where she sits with his father, Jimmy.
When Jey told his teammates he wanted to stick a pink ribbon on the back of his helmet this week, everybody wanted to do the same.
For most of the past 115 days, the Sabres team has taken food, gifts and cards to Jey's house. His sister, Jordan, 20, decided to transfer from the University of Alabama to Appalachian State to be closer to the family. Other South Meck parents have picked up on Sheila Yokeley's volunteer duties, such as helping with pregame meals or selling concessions.
And what's struck Sheila most, in this outpouring of love, is how much of it is coming from the teens themselves.
Sabre Matt Jones recently delivered a hand-written card. It reads:
I cannot believe you are going through this. You have always been like another Mom to me. I love you and I pray for you. We are all going to fight our way through this season and we are carrying you to fight your way through cancer. Always know we love you.
"Coach Martin preaches godly character to these kids, and that's why they're successful," she said. "They are very talented, but they also have in their hearts that desire to win and fight hard and fight tough -- and they've been such an inspiration to me. It's just been really touching."
Her voice cracks again.
"Sometimes, these high school kids get a bad rap," she said. "People say they're disrespectful and don't know what responsibility is. That's not so. There are great kids in these schools, great athletes and great coaches. It's time we shone the light on some of them."
These Sabres, Sheila Yokeley said through more tears, have definitely shined a light on her.
HELMETS ADORNED IN PINK FOR GAME AT INDEPENDENCE
Sabres rally around QB's mom -- a cancer survivorAt S. Meck, inspiration goes both ways
LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
lwertz@charlotteobserver.com
It's been 115 days.
Sheila Yokeley remembers exactly when doctors told her she had a rare form of breast cancer: June 4.
She remembers all the painful trips to the doctor that followed. She remembers the surgery to remove both her breasts. She remembers the depression that followed. And the recovery.
Most of all, she said she'll remember how the South Mecklenburg High football team has helped her get through it. Yokeley's son, Jey, is the Sabres' starting quarterback.
"Cancer doesn't just affect one member of the family," she said. "It affects the whole family. And this team is like family to us, and the love and support we've received from the team and their families is just unbelievable."
Yokeley's voice cracks. She pauses.
"It's just unbelievable."
Through what's become a magic carpet ride of a season, the Sabres have pretty much adopted Yokeley as team mascot.
They plan to wear pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness on the backs of their helmets in Friday's game at Independence.
That game might be the biggest the school has played since 1994, the last time South Meck was in the playoffs.
"Football is a rough sport," Yokeley said. "We've grown up with it. But it's that gentle tender side that I've seen from this team that has me convinced that's the reason this program is turning around and these guys are winning."
Last year, South was 2-9 under first-year coach James Martin.
This season, with 14 starters back, the Sabres have mastered Martin's misdirection running offense, averaging more than 300 yards rushing per game. South is 4-1 overall and tied with Independence, Butler and Providence for first place in Southwestern 4A.
Not bad for a team that was 13-71 from 1998 through 2006.
"I thought with what we had coming back, we could've easily gone into the Independence game 5-0," Martin said. "That was my goal as head coach and our challenge to the players. We knew every game would be tough, but we knew we had the talent."
The Sabres are big. Jey Yokeley is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback. Fullback Spencer Shuey is 6-3, 250. Lineman Trey Strickland is 6-7, 317. South pounds teams with its running game and makes opponents play more defense than they'd like.
And with every win, the school spirit intensifies.
Martin said his classes sometimes get interrupted with students singing "We are the Sabres!" in a courtyard near his classroom.
"The teachers are telling me that they've never seen this kind of enthusiasm, and some of them have been here for more than 20 years," Martin said.
Jey Yokeley, the quarterback, said he definitely feels it.
"Man, the student body is electric," he said. "Kids I don't even know are like, `Good game Friday night.' Everywhere you go, security people, janitors, teachers or students, everybody's wanting to talk football. It's a good feeling."
He said something else has made him feel good, too -- the way his team is looking after his mother.
Sheila was diagnosed after she went in for a routine mammogram but complained of breast tenderness in June. The regular mammogram showed nothing, but because of her tenderness, the doctor suggested a special digital test, which she had two days later.
It revealed Sheila had Stage 2 breast cancer, and it came as a big shock.
"It was hard to hear that news," Jey Yokeley said. "I know what cancer can do to you and to a family. Without this football team, I don't know what I'd do. I feel like my teammates are my brothers. Coach Martin is like a father figure. Every time I need to talk, I can come to him."
Yokeley said playing through this season has given him motivation to be strong for his mom. When he scores a touchdown, he always points to the stands where she sits with his father, Jimmy.
When Jey told his teammates he wanted to stick a pink ribbon on the back of his helmet this week, everybody wanted to do the same.
For most of the past 115 days, the Sabres team has taken food, gifts and cards to Jey's house. His sister, Jordan, 20, decided to transfer from the University of Alabama to Appalachian State to be closer to the family. Other South Meck parents have picked up on Sheila Yokeley's volunteer duties, such as helping with pregame meals or selling concessions.
And what's struck Sheila most, in this outpouring of love, is how much of it is coming from the teens themselves.
Sabre Matt Jones recently delivered a hand-written card. It reads:
I cannot believe you are going through this. You have always been like another Mom to me. I love you and I pray for you. We are all going to fight our way through this season and we are carrying you to fight your way through cancer. Always know we love you.
"Coach Martin preaches godly character to these kids, and that's why they're successful," she said. "They are very talented, but they also have in their hearts that desire to win and fight hard and fight tough -- and they've been such an inspiration to me. It's just been really touching."
Her voice cracks again.
"Sometimes, these high school kids get a bad rap," she said. "People say they're disrespectful and don't know what responsibility is. That's not so. There are great kids in these schools, great athletes and great coaches. It's time we shone the light on some of them."
These Sabres, Sheila Yokeley said through more tears, have definitely shined a light on her.