RCS Celtic Newsletter Spring 2017

20 - COVER STORY

A Man for All Seasons A.J. Bennett turned a devastating football injury into a chance to shine on stage

As Captain Von Trapp, A.J. Bennett (right) starred alongside classmate Audrey Wagner’s Maria this year in The Sound of Music.

A.J. Bennett was having the game of his life. It was Oct. 3, 2016, just six weeks into his first year at Roanoke Catholic School, and the junior had already

right guard, he remembers, “and it was green grass all the way.” He rumbled down the field, spied a defender and gave him the stiff arm. But he never saw the

scooped up a fumble and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to put the Celtics up 20-0 at Craig County. Now lined up at fullback, he was handed the ball on “43-belly,” hit the hole off

second guy, who grabbed A.J. by the neck of his shoulder pads in a “horse collar” tackle. Like an accordion, he crumpled to the ground with both tacklers coming down