Recovering Chase Smith to attend Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe game

When the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Warriors take the field at Adairsville tonight for their Region 5-AAA opener, they will have a familiar face rooting them on.

LFO player Chase Smith, who suffered a series of strokes in mid-July that left him in critical condition, will be in attendance tonight. Smith has been in rehabilitation at the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta and has been granted permission to attend the game.

"It's going to be great for the team to see him, and obviously it will be great for Chase to see his teammates," LFO coach Todd Windham said. "A few of his teammates saw him when he was in Chattanooga, and I was able to visit him recently, and the progress he has made has been miraculous. We sent him his road jersey and he will be an honorary captain for us. I know everyone is looking forward to it."

Smith recently celebrated his 17th birthday at Shepherd with a handful of his teammates on hand, but this will be his first appearance with the Warriors since suffering the strokes.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com

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