MATTHEWS, N.C. — This year whenever Brooks Mauk scores a touchdown or catches a pass, it means a little more.
"I don't I don't want to miss a single beat of playing football ever again," Mauk said.
Last season, Mauk went down with about as nasty an injury as you can imagine, breaking his tibia and fibula bones in his leg.
"I grabbed my shin and the lower part of my shin twisted," he said. "That was terrifying."
At first, his football dreams looked to be on hold, or over.
"I just knew my life has changed course," Mauk said. "I believe that it was for the better good, but in the moment, I'm very angry and but mostly sad."
Mauk had surgery the next morning and then set on a course to return by the beginning of this season.
Inspired by the support of his teammates, coaches, medical staff and family.
"Am I going to get back on time? Am I going to be as good?" Mauk remembers asking himself. "Those messages inspired me to do better."
Just before this season, he was ready to run full speed and return to the football field.
"Before the game, I was extremely nervous," Mauk said. "But for some reason, suddenly, I can't tell you it's like magic. Once I hit the field, something turned on."
Mauk has helped Weddington to an 11-2 season so far, and the Warriors are just one win away from another trip to the Final Four.
For his battle back, he was recently awarded the Thomas Davis Comeback Player of the Year sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and Novant Health.
"I just felt the sudden pride and joy," Mauk said. "I felt like I was backed up by the whole on the whole community really. And it just felt awesome."
Mauk will be honored at the annual Nagurski Awards banquet in Charlotte on Dec. 4.