It was late in the second half of the North Buncombe football game in September of his junior season. Emet Gamez was sprinting down the field when a linebacker running behind him slid into his knee.
Both players fell to the ground, but Gamez’s MCL ligament in his left knee, was torn. He faced a long recovery to prepare for his senior season. He had only been able to play in three games before his injury.
He went to physical therapy three times a week for four weeks, and over the summer he worked out every day to become stronger than before. This season, he played every game, including the team’s two playoff games.
“I started playing football because there is no other sport like it,” Gamez said. “It has helped me learn how to work with others and do my job on the field to the best of my ability.”
On defense, Gamez played nose guard. To prepare for games, he and his teammates watched films of their opponents to study the plays and players they would have to defend against.
“Emet is very hardworking,” teammate James Murray said. “His position is very hard. He isn’t the biggest person, but he makes up for his size with his passion.”
On offense, Emet was a right guard. This position’s main job is to protect the quarterback while opening up holes for the running backs to go through.
“The biggest struggle for me was to stop the person in front of me,” Gamez said. “I worked hard every day in practice to perfect my game.”
Gamez has played football for six years, and if given the opportunity, he would like to continue playing in college. After college he wants to stay around the sports scene by becoming an athletic trainer.
“I connect well with the whole offensive line because we are there next to each other throughout the whole game,” Emet said. “My teammates and I are like a family. We have our differences and we sort them out as we go.”
This season the football team had nine returning seniors who led the team to a 9-4 overall record, 5-2 in conference play. The team qualified for the playoffs by finishing second in the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference.
Senior Tanner Bullock finished the season with 1,325 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior Stephen Perron led the team with 79 solo tackles and 107 overall.
“It was good for us to have so many returning seniors,” Gamez said. “We were a lot better than last year and made it into the playoffs.”
The Falcons hosted both their first and second round playoff games. They defeated Forestview, 28-21, but ended their season with a loss to West Rowan, 41-19.
The team will be remembered for making the playoffs and earning two home playoff games, for beating Hendersonville, 42-14, for the first time since 2007 and for ending Franklin’s 22-game win streak.
By Isabella Perron
