Alex’s brother Jack, a junior at Shawnee, dedicated Friday’s game to Alex and then clinched the victory by forcing a fumble in overtime at Urbana.
“It was really remarkable to hear about Jack last night,” Alex said Saturday. “Last week when I had my injury, he called me that night and told me he was going to ‘ball out’ for me next week, and I knew he would. He has been watching me play for years, and to see him have success in such a big way last night was outstanding. I always knew he was going to be a playmaker.”
Shawnee coach Rick Meeks said Jack didn’t say anything about dedicating the game to his brother but when told about it Saturday, Meeks said, “That sounds like him.”
The Braves (5-4) rallied from a 14-0 deficit. Todd King scored the tying touchdown with 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Jack, who was a ballboy during Alex’s high school career, caught a 68-yard touchdown pass and finished with 126 receiving yards and 44 rushing yards.
Alex finished the season with eight tackles in five games. He appeared in every game as a sophomore and junior, earning two starts, and had started four of five games this season.
“Obviously, it was devastating to end my football career on a knee injury of that magnitude,” Alex said, “but I believe that everything happened for a reason. I have had a great career here at Dartmouth, and I am thankful the coaches put me in a position to succeed week in and week out. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to play for the Big Green. All my friends here have been outstanding bringing me goodie bags and helping take care of me. I couldn’t ask for better friends.”
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