To view photos of Friday night's district title game, visit the Photo Gallery.
NEWTOWN - The final post-game meeting of Neshaminy’s linebacking corps with co-defensive coach Neil French had just broken up when Marco Dapkey, Tyler Masterson, Denny Lord and Kyle George huddled together.
It was one of those private moments only teammates who have battled in the trenches together can share, and no one has waged a tougher battle than Dapkey.
In June, the Redskins’ senior captain was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and although he could not contribute on the field, Dapkey was on the sidelines during games in his familiar number seven jersey, offering encouragement and advice and remaining very much a part of this year’s Redskin squad.
“Just being at the game every Friday night was the best thing for me,” Dapkey said. “I couldn’t make practices as much as I wanted to because of treatments and things, but just the fact that I got to spend every Friday night with every one of my seniors that I worked my butt off with to get to where I got to before this happened – it was probably the best thing I could ask for.
“I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
The scoreboard at Council Rock North’s Walt Snyder Stadium showed that the Knights had defeated the Redskins 42-6 in Friday night’s District One Class AAAA title game, but that was secondary to Dapkey.
“I don’t care what the score was tonight,” he said. “I don’t care what any score was during this season. Just the fact that I was there makes everything worthwhile.”
Those are powerful words from a young athlete who was projected to lead the Redskins’ linebacking corps as a senior captain, so it was easy to understand the poignant exchange between Dapkey and three of his fellow linebackers as the Redskins left the field for the final time this season.
“As an outside linebacker, my job was to be the leader of them because I was the only returner,” Dapkey said. “Having me go out on them like that – there’s no one there to take control, so just the fact that I was able to stay with them and talk to them – tell them what to do on this play or that play – probably really meant something to them.”
Just exactly how much the games meant to Dapkey was underscored by the fact that he was granted a six-hour ‘lease’ while hospitalized for treatments to attend the Pennsbury game.
So it was hardly surprising that Dapkey was able to put Friday night’s season-ending loss in perspective.
“Everything that happened this season – they shouldn’t have any regrets,” he said. “I don’t have any regrets. Everything happens for a reason.”
Dapkey acknowledged that he has been the recipient of an outpouring of support.
“I don’t think it’s anything you can explain,” he said. “The way people come together in this Neshaminy community – our coaches, our players, the students, family, everybody – it’s something magical.
“You can’t really describe it, but it’s heartwarming. The season ends eventually, but I’m just thankful for everything.”
With that, Dapkey – wearing a hoodie under his number seven jersey – prepared to leave the field for the final time of a senior season that, although it didn’t go exactly as planned, was something special indeed.
“It was something I worked so hard for – I came here the happiest football player alive,” Dapkey said. “I had tons of expectations, and I’m sorry I couldn’t come out here and play for them.
“Just the fact that I’m here should mean something.”
Dapkey, who says he is doing well, is in the last five weeks of his final set of treatments. He has every intention of ‘finishing the fight’ and beating his toughest opponent.
- Log in to post comments
