Trevor Harris is a fighter. That was evident when the senior opted to finish out a scoring drive late in the second quarter against Clarion on Saturday despite suffering a knee injury.
But today the senior quarterback begins one of the biggest fights of his career — trying to get back on the field to finish out his collegiate career when the Fighting Scots take on Millersville on Saturday.
Monday, Harris received encouraging news from doctors when they revealed his MRI indicated no structural damage to the left knee he dislocated while completing a pass to David Bostic with under a minute to play in the first half against the Golden Eagles. The reigning NCAA Division II Super Regional One player of the year did, however, tear his meniscus and will need to undergo arthroscopic surgery to scope the knee, a procedure that will require roughly two weeks of rehabilitation, according to Harris. The shorter rehabilitation period keep his hopes of playing football at the next level intact, he said.
Harris said he is happy with the prognosis, but is planning to seek a second opinion today in Columbus, Ohio in hopes of finishing out his career on the field Saturday with his teammates.
“All I need is for one doctor to tell me I can play,” Harris said. “No disrespect to the doctors here, because they’ve been great. But if I can get one doctor to tell me I don’t need the surgery and I can play, I’m going to play.”
Of course, Harris is preparing for the worst.
“I don’t understand what God’s will is,” Harris said. “But He has a plan, and I’m going to trust in it whatever it is. It’s just tough to understand.”
While many suspected Harris’ injury came when he was run out of bounds by Clarion’s Barrington Morrison. Harris said the injury actually occurred a play later during an 8-yard completion to David Bostic. Harris ran the final three plays of the series, including a hand-off to Bostic from one leg that resulted in a touchdown.
Harris said he was determined to go back into the game Saturday, which he left with his team ahead 17-6. The Scots wound up losing 30-17, all but ending their playoff hopes.
“There was no way I wasn’t going back out,” he said. “When I was back in the locker room, I was throwing a bit of a hissy-fit. I told the trainers just to give me a knee brace, and I was going back out. They handed me a knee brace and told me to put it on by myself. I put it on and thought I’d be ready to go. But I put some weight on it and I knew it really wasn’t going to happen.
“They told me to think about the long term effects and the aspirations I had. So we shut it down.”
If Harris can’t go on Saturday, he will be on the sidelines to offer any advice he can to fifth-year senior Joe Wanson, who will likely get the start against Millersville.
“Maybe it will give me a different perspective,” Harris said. “In football, you’re never too old to learn something new. You can teach an old dog new tricks. If I have to be there on the sidelines coaching, I’m anxious and willing to learn.”
That is one thing that will make Saturday a little easier for Harris should doctors in Columbus tell him he can’t play. Another is the tremendous support Harris, who owns every career passing record at Edinboro and ranks fourth or better in nearly every Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference career passing record, has received over the last few days, particularly from opposing players on the d2football.com message boards.
Harris said he has not logged onto the site himself, but has been told of the encouraging words he’s received from fans not only in the PSAC but all of Division II.
“It’s a show of appreciation for football and what kind people there are out there,” Harris said. “God Bless them for taking time out of there days to write those encouraging things. I really appreciate them.”
Of course, Harris hoping to give those fans one last show.
“When I asked the doctors if I could play on Saturday, they looked at me like I was crazy,” he said. “But I’m going to see what I can do. If I can play, I’m going to play. Right now, it doesn’t look like it. If that’s the case, I’m going to do what I can to help Joe (Wanson) along and send the seniors out with a victory.”
Lisa Byers can be reach at 724-6370, ext. 277 or by e-mail at lbyers@meadvilletribune.com.
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Harris: I want to play Saturday
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