Marion County's Deion Riley (24) runs the ball past Central defenders.JASPER, Tenn. -- Not long ago, Marion County's Deion Riley was aching to get back on a football field.
He may still be aching a little bit, but at least he knows last Friday he contributed in the Warriors' 41-20 home victory over Trousdale County in a TSSAA Class 2A quarterfinal.
Marion County (11-1) will be home again this week, taking on Knoxville's Grace Christian Rams (10-3) at 8 p.m. EST. Friday's winner will advance to the state final in Cookeville.
Riley is a cornerback and running back who entered 2014 as a starter for the third year. The team started 3-0, then made the trip to Harrison to play at Central on Sept. 12 in a game the Warriors, and especially Riley, would just as soon forget.
The Purple Pounders edged them that night 7-0. Riley remembers a carry in particular that landed him in a walking boot for four weeks with a twisted right ankle.
"We ran a jet sweep to the left," Riley said. "I remember I was getting tackled and someone was hanging on to my ankle. Then everybody just fell and rolled it up pretty good."
Riley did his best to be a supporter as he watched the next few games from the sideline. It was tough.
"Being a senior, the thing I knew was that I had to get back on that field," Riley said. "This was my last shot entirely. I did everything I could to get back as quick as I could."
That included icing it, staying off it, going to physical therapy and just giving it time.
Making matters worse for him, he returned briefly only to reinjure the ankle Oct. 31 against South Pittsburg.
"As a senior you've got dreams and goals," Marion County coach Ricky Ross said. "Not playing all those games and missing out didn't fall into that."
But the same dogged determination that led to Riley earning a starting varsity spot as a sophomore, two years after taking up football, came to the forefront again as he willed himself back on the field. Last Friday he made a touchdown-saving tackle on a series in which the Warriors eventually picked up a turnover.
"His best asset is his work ethic -- his work ethic and his attitude," Ross said. "He gives us tremendous leadership. He understands what it's like to play in a big game. You can't replace experience.
"The thing I appreciate about him is he's never tried to turn this into being about him. He understands the team concept. He came back to help this team."
Riley mostly has played on defense since this last return. He's fine with that. He's just happy to be able to go out on the field play another game -- and hopefully one more after that.
"This offseason we talked about how amazing it would be to go this far," Riley said. "I try not to think of it, though, because I don't want to get my mind off what we had to do to get here."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.