After battling cancer for more than two years, the teenage son of a high school football coach took the field for the first time to cap off an emotional season.
A great weight appeared to be lifted off the shoulders of Rockdale High School Head Coach Jeff Miller Thursday evening when his son, Gunner, took to the gridiron to play the final snap of the team’s championship game.
Gunner had been sidelined since he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2015, a rare type of cancer that grows in or around the bones and most often found in teenage males.
“Everybody in this community knows how special this moment is”
On the final play of the game coach Jeff Miller put in his son, Gunner Miller to handle the snap. Gunner was a player on #Rockdale before a bout with cancer forced him out.
This is bigger than football. #UILonFOX pic.twitter.com/V2OCgTd9R0
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) December 22, 2017
It wasn’t until Thursdays that Gunner Miller was allowed him to suit up for the big game against rivals Brock High School in the Class 3A Division I title game (Pictured: Jeff Miller)
After battling cancer for more than two years, Gunner Miller took to the gridiron to play the final snap of his team’s championship game
He spent 2015 and much of 2016 fighting the cancer, according to The Temple Daily Telegram, undergoing agonizing hours of rehab and therapy. In August, doctors deemed Miller in remission following surgery to remove his tumor.
It wasn’t until Thursdays, however, that Gunner was allowed him to suit up for the big game against rivals Brock High School in the Class 3A Division I title game.
Gunner Miller (pictured left) had been sidelined since he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2015, a rare type of cancer that grows in or around the bone
‘It wasn’t even my idea. It was his teammates’ idea,’ Jeff Miller told the Telegram following the game. ‘They came up to me and said, “Hey, would you be willing to do this?” They didn’t have to ask me twice.’
Brock had taken an early lead in the game, leading 21-0 after the first quarter. But Rockdale climbed back, scoring four touchdowns in seven minutes to go into halftime up 28-21.
Rockdale Tigers were crowned football state champions for the first time in 41 years following their 45-29 victory on Thursday at AT&T Stadium, according to The Temple Daily Telegram, with Gunner taking a knee to run out the clock for the final play.
‘We’ve dealt with adversity for so long and so often that we know a football game, a football season and life are going to be rough on you sometimes,’ Jeff Miller said as tears streamed from his eyes.
The Miller family is now spending a healthy, happy Christmas at their Texas home as champions.
Rockdale Tigers were crowned football state champions for the first time in 41 years following their 45-29 victory on Thursday at AT&T Stadium