BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
Kirk Wilson was sitting in class at Courtland High School last Tuesday when he suddenly felt tired, dizzy and nauseous.
The senior running back for the Cougars football team wasn’t able to practice last week. Doctors originally thought he was suffering from pneumonia or mononucleosis. Such a diagnosis would have meant Wilson wouldn’t have been able to suit up for Courtland’s Region I, Division 4 semifinal against Warhill.
But tests came back negative. Wilson was diagnosed with a sinus infection and cleared to play Friday morning.
The over-the-counter medication Wilson took must’ve worked.
He rushed for 95 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars advanced with a 20–10 home victory to the regional championship game for the second straight season.
Wilson’s effort earned him Free Lance–Star Player of the Week honors. He’s feeling strong again as the Cougars (8–3) prepare to play Grafton (8–3) for the regional championship on Saturday at Bailey Field in Yorktown.
“I could barely walk sometimes [last week],” Wilson said. “As a senior, I thought I could’ve played my last game of high school football.”
When Wilson was cleared to play, he and Courtland’s other seniors were motivated by the threat of their careers coming to an end.
Wilson didn’t start against Warhill because coaches wanted to honor those who practiced all week. So Wilson entered the game on Courtland’s second offensive series.
The Cougars fell behind 10–0 in the second quarter. But Wilson said when he began to feel better and the Cougars began playing “Courtland football,” the game changed.
“I still felt a little sick. I was a little dizzy,” Wilson said. “But it wore off as the game went on, probably because I was so hyped.”
Wilson (6-foot, 178 pounds) has 33 rushing touchdowns the past two seasons combined. This year, he’s rushed for 813 yards and 17 scores.
He’s now focused on delivering a good performance against a Grafton team that held him to 11 rushing yards on 11 carries in the regional semifinals last season. Wilson said the statistics still stand out to him even though the Cougars won the game, 14–13.
“I know they have a very good run defense,” Wilson said of the Clippers. “Hopefully we’ll play like we did last Friday, but with a better start.”
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
tcoghill@freelancestar.com
- PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Each Tuesday, The Free Lance–Star will recognize a high school football player of the week from the previous weekend’s games.
Week 1: Zach Deutel, Brooke Point QB
Week 2: Brandon Ravenel, North Stafford WR
Week 3: Ashten Dixon, Spotsylvania QB
Week 4: Trey Reed, Colonial Forge RB/DB
Week 5: Logan Jackson, Stafford LB
Week 6: Julian Bumbrey, James Monroe DB
Week 7: Marquis James, Washington & Lee RB
Week 8: DaeSean Hamilton, Mountain View WR/DB
Week 9: Kevin Daniels, North Stafford RB
Week 10: Maurice Gary, Riverbend RB
Week 11: Corey Henderson, King George QB/LB
Week 12: Tyus White, Brooke Point WR
Week 13: Kirk Wilson, Courtland RB
