Return of the Comets

Note: this story is actually from last week and refers to last Thursday. I forgot to post it up last week. My bad. It was the Score Atlanta Cover Story from last week.

Arquacious Crane was just fighting for an extra yard in a game last season for the South Gwinnett Comets JV football team. With just one hit, the South Gwinnett JV team’s season, and Crane’s career, ended. Crane suffered a spinal cord injury that would require two surgeries, but according to Comet head coach John Small, Crane is “rehabbing and progressing quite well,” and won’t require any more surgery. “He’s an amazing young man,” said Small of Crane. Small said that Crane, the 6’2 WR was a varsity player simply playing JV last season to get some reps, but that isn’t uncommon for South Gwinnett football. This year’s team, according to Small is a big group of sophomores with some juniors sprinkled in. This Thursday, the JV will take the field for the first time since last September 20, the night of the injury when the game was called with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Immediately after the injury, Crane was unable to walk and underwent surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His fellow Comet teammates and students set out to help Crane through several fundraisers. The Band of the Stars shared their Taste of South Gwinnett proceeds with Crane’s family and the South Gwinnett Touchdown Club set up a fund at several local banks. Students even passed around a bucket during the school’s lunch periods. His teammates and coaches all felt this was necessary and deserved. “He’s an amazing young man,” said Small.
Crane has returned to school and he will be at all of the Comet varsity games this season according to Small. “Everyday seeing him is an inspiration, not just on the field. He’s a great young man who never complains.” Ray Johnson, whose nephew played with Crane on the JV team last season, agrees. “He’s a great kid.”
Though he won’t be able to play, just Crane’s presence will be a boost for both the JV and the varsity teams. “Just seeing his face each and everyday is special for all of us,” says Small. “He reminds us how lucky we are.” The JV team has no plans to wear a special patch or decal honoring Crane, as Small said the varsity did that last season, en route to a 6-5 record and playoff appearance. The team had not made the playoffs since going posting a 12-1 record in 2003 and reaching the third round.
The JV game this week against Brookwood will be “just a normal game.” No special ceremonies are planned, just the business of playing football. The team has four games scheduled (Thursday vs. Brookwood, at Loganville, at Berkmar, home against Parkview) with three more October dates to be announced. Despite the injury, the Comets will still use the JV team to get some juniors repetitions they possibly would not get on the varsity field. Numerous players have been listed on both the varsity and the JV rosters, including Darius and Daunte Bryant, both DBs who should certainly see the most of the six quarters allowed per week by the GHSA. The JV Comets will likely be led by sophomore QB Josh Kelly, but junior Roie Felix could drop down from the varsity for some meaningful snaps. The JV team will have a stable of sophomore running backs with which to attack in Aaron Wimberly, Shane Madison and Darius Jones-Craven. A few of these youngsters though might be playing for time with the upperclassmen though as Comets varsity tailback Jeremy Dobbins (7 TDs in 2007) might be slowed this season with a knee injury. The Comets JV lost a huge crew of wide receivers to the varsity this season, but the pipeline has just reloaded with more sophomores such as Xavier Foreman, Adrian Ranson, and Kevin Gray, who should see plenty of time on Thursdays. The offensive line future for the Comets looks promising as eleven sophomores will cut their teeth this season. Defensive back, led by the Bryants and Chaz Jackson should be a strength for the JV, when they aren’t starring for the varsity Comets.
The JV team is anxious to get out and play, “if the weather will hold out,” according to Small, and the team will likely use Crane as an inspiration. “The kids are happy [Crane’s] back and he’s excited about getting back out [on the sidelines] with the guys,” said Small. In construction they say the job is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. This team is ready to live out the second part of the project.