When he was in sixth grade, Casey Monaghan was a baller.  Much more like a lefty Shaq than Julius Peppers, although he wound up resembling the latter, becoming a stellar defensive end at Hoggard High School. As his middle school math teacher and basketball coach from grades six through eight, I quickly grew to love Casey.  He was an all-around good guy to have in class, and his basketball game thrived on determination, will and, more than anything else, heart… what else can a coach ask for?

We practiced at an off campus gym.  The bus ride to practice gave me a better chance to get to know Casey outside the walls of the school, but on bus rides back, he often slept. 

Diving for loose balls was an instinct.  Boxing out and crashing the boards, innate.  While running suicides wasn’t his specialty, he always pushed it, and welcomed more sprints as a challenge, well… most of the time.  When Casey was about spent, he would often lay on his back, hands up over his sweaty head, writhing in agony, and moan out at the top of his lungs, “Momma!”  

That’s about the time practice would usually end.  After a good practice you could always count on Casey to find the first available seat to pass out on as we headed back to school.

Onto Hoggard

After three years of middle school with Casey, it was off to Hoggard High School.

I saw him freshman year and he was all like… “Football, football, football.” 

I asked him about math.  He told me about football.  I asked him about other classes.  He told me about football.

So I finally got wise, and asked him about football.

I kept in close contact with the Monaghans, keeping tabs on Casey when visiting the families’ two restaurants.  They would give me updates on his math progress and and football prowess. 

Casey in action

I finally got my chance to see Casey play during the season opener his junior year.  Covering my first high school football game for the Cape Fear Sports Report in the fall of 2007, I headed out to Hoggard.  I looked for #90.  There he was!

As the Hoggard defense took the field, Casey was starting at defensive end.  Pride beamed from inside me.  I knew Hoggard was no joke; he wasn’t starting because the coach didn’t have any other options.  For him to be starting as a junior said something for his progress, as he hadn’t played a down before going to Hoggard.

Hoggard killed New Bern in the season opener, but what was to be a standout junior year, wound up being an injury riddled campaign for Casey as a nasty hamstring tear cost him most of the 2007 state championship season.  The injury turned him from sack master on the field, to moral supporter on the sidelines.  

It was tough on Casey.  Positive all the while, I could hear the hunger in his voice and disappointment in his face when I talked about football with him.  He had trained all off season and now he had to sit as the rest of the team continued having great success.  Casey couldn’t be out on the field making plays… wreaking havoc.  Instead, he shared the joy of each Hoggard win from the sidelines.

Hoggard kept winning, and Casey kept getting a bit healthier.  Head Coach Scott Braswell was able to work Casey into the point-after team so that he could play on the turf at Wake Forest during the title game as Hoggard won the 2007 4A State Championship. 

Casey worked harder than ever to get ready for his senior year.  The next eight months were consumed with working out, eating right, and getting in the best football shape of his life.

This past season, #90 was part of the backbone to the Hoggard defense which was to be the Vikings’ strength.  A team captain, Casey represented his team and school with class all the way.  Overcoming his injury, Casey had a great senior year.  While worried about losing a step as just a high schooler, Casey’s hamstring held up all year.

Hoggard won the Mideastern Conference and entered the second round of the playoffs with a 10-1 record.  But then, it all ended in the blink of an eye as Apex stole a last minute victory.

What could of been, wasn’t meant to be.  That’s how it ends for all but one team in the playoffs. 

In what was a tightly contested defensive battle, it appeared Hoggard would make a second quarter Ian Durham field goal stand up.  

With their 3-0 lead, the Vikings took possession late in the fourth quarter looking to move onto round three.  Trying to put the nail in the coffin by either coming up with a typical late score, or by running the clock out if they could keep it ticking while they held onto the ball, it seemed that this was going to be another one of those tough grind’em out Hoggard wins.  

The Vikings’ offense picked up two first downs, but then on third and twelve, Apex stuffed the Hoggard run.  They quickly called timeout, and with 1:25 showing on the scoreboard, they were about to get the ball back.

And then it happened.  

Forcing Hoggard to punt, Apex’s Joey Powell snuck in to block the kick, swiftly scooping it up and returning it for a touchdown.  The play was extemely similar to Hoggard’s Kiarra Scott’s punt block, scoop, and score in the exact same endzone just a few weeks before against New Hanover, but this time, the Vikings were the victims.

And just like that, the mentality on the Hoggard sideline went from ‘we’re moving onto round three,’ to ‘season over.’

That’s when I saw Casey, crumpled over on the sidelines, emotions releasing from putting everything you’ve got into something, and having it stolen away at the end.  So quickly, everything was nothing.  For all that blood, for all that sweat, Casey was reduced to just tears.

Hoggard had a great season as they won the Mideastern Conference and entered the second round of the playoffs with a 10-1 record.  But then, after winning in round one of the playoffs, and leading for most of the game in round two, everything ended in the blink of an eye as Apex stole a last minute victory.

As the final seconds ticked away, my heart bled for Casey.  I wanted to give him a hug, smelly uniform and all.  Everything that Casey had worked for was swept away in an instant; but after all, everyone has to lose except the state champions. 

I felt so empty.  As a former teacher and coach, there is nothing you want more than to see those who do it the right way, win.  I couldn’t ease his pain and while I knew time would help heal his wounds, it was hard seeing it end for Casey.  What could of been, wasn’t meant to be, and the sad reality is, that’s how it ends for all but one team in the playoffs.

Think about all of the teams that had fantastic seasons that ended in heartache.  It is tough to defend the BCS and not want playoffs in college football, but at least with bowl games, half the teams finish the season with a win instead of a loss.

After stepping back and thinking about the end of the game, I didn’t necessarily want Casey to win… I wanted him to have success.  While Hoggard didn’t go all the way, it is hard to image Casey having a more successful high school football experience than what he’s had the past four year.

High school football season is over.   Most seniors will not play an organized game of football ever again.  That’s a tough pill to swallow. 

It isn’t just a game.  It is so much more than just a game.  Football has helped mold Casey into a young man, one that understands the value of team work and busting your butt to get the results you desire.  And that is where winning doesn’t necessarily define success.  With crime polluting our city, these student-athletes who live by the slogans that others just read on the posters, are all champions.

This is just my personal story, one example.  While Casey is a real dude, “Casey” could be a metaphor used for all those who put it on the line and gave it their best shot this season… those that played for the love and didn’t expect anything back.  This story could be about many football players from Ashley, Laney, New Hanover or Hoggard who did it right like Casey; quite frankly it could be about many local high school athletes from a variety of sports.  

Thanks to all the Casey’s involved in high school sports out there.  You rock.

- Jesse Jones