RHS Quarterback Jace Robinson had started every game for the Tigers since they faced Lexington in 2018. He put in a tremendous amount of work this past summer and was expected to lead the Tigers to glory in his senior season.
However, unforeseen circumstances struck as a right leg injury has sidelined him for the season. While his injury was a tough blow for himself, the team, and Big Blue Nation, Robinson has refused to give up. He is on the road to a full recovery and looks to return to the field soon.
“It’s been tough going through this process,” Robinson said. “My family and I pray about it every night. Just being able to get my mind outside of football and focus on things I may have taken for granted has helped the process go by faster.”
In the first game against the LaGrange Leopards, Robinson’s knee buckled as he scrambled towards the end zone in the first half. Robinson says he knew something didn’t feel right once he hit the ground.
“When it first happened, it felt like somebody kind of dead legged me and I could feel it throbbing,” Robinson said. “Then, Hagan (Land) ran up to me and said, ‘good run’ and then he looked at my leg and said, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Then I looked at my leg and it was just hanging there. That’s when I knew it was broken.”
As the crowd realized Robinson had sustained a serious injury, you could hear a pin drop in the stadium. Looks of sadness and disbelief were on everyone’s faces. Despite the pain Robinson was feeling, he says he knew he had to stay positive.
“The first thing I thought was this is all in God’s plan for me,” Robinson said. “My mom and dad were there, so I didn’t want them to freak out too much. I just tried to stay calm. I knew I’d get back on the field when my time comes.”
When Robinson arrived at the hospital, it was confirmed that he had broken his right leg in three places. Robinson described the reconstructive surgery he went through to get his leg fixed.
“The doctors stuck a medal rod through the middle of my tibia and put some screws in it to keep the rod stable,” Robinson said. “My fibula was broken too, but the doctors said it would heal on its own.”
After his surgery, Robinson says he received a great amount of support from the Rockdale community. Whether it was text messages or social media mentions, Robinson said it felt great knowing how much the community cared.
“It felt really good,” Robinson said. “Just knowing that I’ve got family, friends and supporters that have my back feels great. It really lifted me up.”
Being the starter for the last two seasons, Robinson admitted that not being able to play has been difficult for him. He detailed the rehab process and the work he’s put in to get back on the field. “Right after surgery, it was hard for me
“Right after surgery, it was hard for me to bend my leg,” Robinson said. “I had to start out with small exercises like leg raises and quad flexes. As the rehab process went on, I started to do leg press workouts with small weights and lunges.”
Now with it being almost two months since his injury, Robinson says he feels that things are getting back to normal. He expects to be back on the field soon.
“My recovery has been going very well,” Robinson said. “Day by day I can tell how much better my leg is getting. It’s been tough not being able to be out there with the guys, but it gives me extra motivation to get back out there at 100 percent.”
Despite not being on the field, Jace said he still carries himself as one of the leaders of the team. While standing on the sidelines, Robinson engages in the game and cheers his teammates on to victory.
“Whenever the guys get back to the sidelines, I’m going to pick the guys up after a good or bad play. I try to give them the motivation they need to get the job done. When I’m talking to the players it still feels like I’m in the game.”
The Rockdale football team has adopted the phrase “1’s up” this season as a tribute to Robinson. Some of the players have been spotted with a “1’s up” decal on their helmets to support their injured teammate. RHS Head Coach Jacob Campsey says the team has rallied around Robinson and played hard for him.
“Jace has remained being an incredible leader for our team,” Campsey said.
“We’ve continued to play for him every week.”
Robinson says his goal is to return by the time the playoffs begin. Whether he plays any
Whether he plays anymore this season or not, Robinson has had a great career at RHS. The future is bright for Robinson as he holds scholarship offers from multiple schools including Valparaiso, Texas Lutheran and Monmouth.
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