Opening night kind of sells itself. Green grass, blaring trumpets, popping pads, grilled pork chops … all conspire to make week one of the high school football season special. | Intercity football previews | U Pick 'Em

Anticipation and renewal join hands at midfield, united by the flip of a coin and the promise of another unpredictable journey. The end will come in late October for some, late November for others.

Regardless, it starts here, on a night of sights and sounds, energy and emotion.

That alone is invigorating. Yet, if you need more inspiration, something or someone to wrap your heart and mind around, look no further than Central Catholic's No. 4.

Sean Stokes will run onto Bill Hundman Memorial Field tonight looking to beat Corn Belt Conference rival Prairie Central. Already, he has beaten odds longer than the Saints' 100-yard home turf.

The senior linebacker destroyed them, really. He willed himself to victory … that is, to a sooner-than-expected return from a devastating knee injury.

Stokes will line up at middle linebacker nine months after completely tearing the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee. He was hurt on the opening kickoff of a Class 4A quarterfinal playoff victory at Decatur St. Teresa, sidelining him for the Saints' run to the state title game.

"The toughest moment of my life," he said of watching Central's 48-24 loss to Addison Driscoll. "It was hard seeing all my friends out there working and not being able to help them."

Physically, the challenge was still ahead. Swelling in the knee delayed surgery until Dec. 19. Rehabilitation would be extensive and exhaustive.

Stokes attacked it the only way he knows … head on. He went to Bloomington's Sports Enhancement Center three days a week, pushing himself as far and fast as he could.

"There were a couple of times it was killing me and I would have to sit out," he said. "I would ice it and get ready for the next rehab session."

He was a regular in the Central weight room, intent on strengthening the muscles around the knee. By February, he was ahead of schedule, driven by the voice in his head "that I was going to get back out there."

He was cleared for full activity three months earlier than expected, was on the field for the first day of practice, and tonight, will be in the middle of the action, wearing a protective brace and a broad smile.

"I probably won't feel it (the knee) once I run out on the field and I see those fans and the lights," said Stokes, a third-year starter. "It means a lot to be out there, and I know it took a lot of hard work. It was a rough road."

The 6-foot, 205-pound Stokes has regained much of his straight-ahead speed. He said his lateral movement is progressing more slowly, but continues to improve.

The knee swells frequently, requiring Stokes to ice it following every practice. He considers that a small price to play the game he loves.

It is the same passion that lured him back after breaking his left arm as a freshman, also on a kickoff. The break was so nasty, the X-ray remains in the Central training room.

"I see it every day and hope it doesn't happen to me again," Stokes said.

Three pins, five screws and a plate were inserted, leaving a scar above his left wrist. Now, the knee is scarred as well, and Stokes is coping with the mental scarring left by a traumatic injury.

He admits being "a little hesitant" at times, but said, "You just have to fight through it."

The first step is getting on the field, and Saints' defensive coordinator Mike Moews will be among his biggest fans tonight.

"I have a soft spot for guys like him because I kind of battled knee problems and know what you have to go through to compete again," Moews said. "He's a great kid and the emotional guy on our defense. I think everybody is pulling for him."

Head coach Bobby Moews certainly is, saying, "That's major knee surgery, and there are guys who don't come back from that."

Stokes is back ahead of schedule.

You have to love opening night.

Randy Kindred is a Pantagraph columnist. To leave him a voice mail, call 820-3402. By e-mail: rkindred@pantagraph.com. The Randy Kindred Blog is at www.pantagraph.com/blogs

---

High School Football Pick 'Em

Can you predict the future? Test your high school football knowledge by predicting the winners of area high school football games every week, and you can win prizes.

Go to www.pantagraph.com/upickem to enter.