Knocked down, but not counted out

Senior RB Mason Green sidelined after injury

Connor Lafontant, Staff

Oct 6, 2023

Senior RB Mason Green backflips his way out of the run through at the start of the Aug. 18 game against Fayette County HS. The Chiefs won the third consecutive Fight for 54 37-24.

Camilla O’Connell

Senior football running back Mason Green, also known as “the flipper” based on how he takes the field at games, was injured at the McIntosh home football game against Woodland HS on Sept. 1.

Green had possession of the ball and when his teammate attempted to block an incoming opposing player, there was a missed blocking assignment and Green got hit.

“I was running the ball and one of our linemen missed his block, which happens, this a rare occasion that they missed their block. I tried to bounce the ball outside and the safety came downhill and he picked me up, and he jumped, and when he jumped we both landed on my shoulder,” Green said.

In that moment, Green’s collarbone was injured.

Green warming up before kickoff at the Sept. 1 game against Woodland HS. (Brady Dunn)

“The doctor said I can’t do anything for six to eight weeks but we’re praying that I can get back for senior night to play,” Green said.

Green is no stranger to injury due to his involvement in other sports.

“I’m kind of used to getting injured. My first year running track, I pulled my hamstring. I’ve learned to just bounce back from keep playing,” Green said.

Although currently injured, he’s still committed to the part he plays for the team. Green is on the sidelines cheering the team on, refilling water bottles or fulfilling requests.

“I attend practices, show up and show my face. Everything I would do if I wasn’t injured,” Green said.

As Green recovers he still can’t fully make physical contact yet.

“They still let me participate in everything. Even though they limit me to things. They won’t let me hit or anything during practice. But I know if I want to go out there and run plays, they’ll let me run plays and stuff like that.”

Despite the temporary setback, Green still finds ways to contribute on gamedays even if he is off the field.

“I’m on the sidelines; I cheer them on. Refill water bottles. If [players] need anything they know they can ask me,” Green said.

Heading into the Homecoming game against Northgate tonight, Green is optimistic about returning to the field.

“I’m almost fully healed. Back in two weeks,” Green said.

Senior night is 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 against Northside Columbus.

Football

Donate to The Trail - The Student News Site of McIntosh High School

$550

$750

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation supports the student journalists of McIntosh High School. Your contribution allows us to cover our annual website hosting costs, to help pay printing costs for "Back to Mac" magazine, and continuing education for staff, such as SNO trainings and MediaNow! editorial leadership training.

About the Contributors

Connor Lafontant, Staff

Connor Lafontant is a sophomore at McIntosh, and is currently serving his second year on the Trail. He was part of the first staff on trail to receive a Distinguished Site Badge. Lafontant is a multi-sport athlete, He runs track and wrestles here at McIntosh. He also played soccer for another rec team in Peachtree City. Not only does he play sports, he also played the trombone for 3 years. He is also part of the honor roll. Lafontant volunteers at a homeless shelter and provided over 14,000 pounds of food for the homeless. Lafontant has also helped distribute covid vaccine shots to over 1,000 people. He loves to do many things such as travel or swim but helping people and giving is his favorite.

Camilla O’Connell, Photo Editor

Camilla O’Connell is a senior at McIntosh. This is her first year on the Trail, though she is a four year editor of the Legend Yearbook and is their Photo Editor for the 2025 book. O’Connell spent a week of her summer as a National Youth Correspondent representing Georgia at the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, in Washington DC, where she met many working journalists and learned how to write in Smart Brevity. O’Connell has won three All-Georgia awards for her storytelling and photography, one superior award in portrait photography and was the first place winner for the Georgia Scholastic Press Association's 2023 on the spot photo contest. She has also won the Laws of Life essay contest twice. Her work has been published in local news sites. Fun fact she fought the Citizen and won because they used one of her photos without her permission or giving her credit. She has photographed every home football game in her high school career. Outside of journalism O’Connell is the President of the Knitting and Crochet club, is in Beta club, Key club, We the People, Chorus, Advanced Drama, the English National Honors Society and the National Honor Society. When she’s not doing something on campus she can be found at the pool as a head lifeguard, on the rink playing hockey, making content for Joestens as one of their Ambassadors or hanging out with friends. “Though I love photography, my favorite part of journaling is getting to interview and hear people’s stories and being a microphone to share them.”