Injured players still part of team

Canfield's Nate Brode and Denny Billec each suffered season-ending injuries.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Early in the second half of last Friday's Division II state semifinal, Canfield High tackle Nate Brode was driven back during a block, landed awkwardly and felt something pop.
"I never felt anything like it before," he said. "I knew I wasn't going to finish the game."
Or the season, as it turns out. Brode fractured his fibula and underwent surgery earlier this week to place titanium plates in his ankle. After starting the first 14 games for the undefeated Cardinals, Brode now finds himself sidelined for the biggest game in school history.
But he's still part of the team.
"These are my best friends," Brode said. "I never quit on my family and that's what these guys are."
Joins Billec on sideline
So Brode, like Denny Billec before him, became a de facto coach, helping the backup linemen prepare for his absence. One of his good friends, junior Paul Sabol, replaced Brode against Tallmadge last week and the Cardinals' coaching staff are thinking of using a rotation of players in Brode's spot this week.
"From my perspective, I'm doing everything I can to help them understand the plays and the assignments," said Brode. "Any questions they have, I try to help them out."
Billec, a senior cornerback, has done the same since breaking his foot in week five. He'll probably need surgery, but he's put it off until after the championship game.
"I just come to practice and try to help out wherever I can," Billec said. "I do everything everyone else does, I just don't play on Friday."
Injured in game five
Billec, who had eight tackles and one interception through five games, was replaced by Frank Ross at corner. Ross, who rotates with Sean Baker at quarterback, has 24 tackles and three interceptions in eight games at DB.
"We almost made him a student-coach," Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said of Billec. "He knows what he's doing and he could help correct the players' technique and help out on assignments.
"He's been a fantastic help."
Only injuries all year
Brode and Billec are the only two players to miss significant time this season for the Cardinals, a major reason why they'll play in their first state championship game Friday against Toledo Central Catholic at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
"We've been pretty much injury-free all year," Pavlansky said. "We have the normal bumps and bruises and some of the guys are pretty beat up, but it's nothing that's going to keep them out of the game."
Some players would have chosen to quit the team after a season-ending injury, but Billec said he never considered it.
"That would have been selfish," he said.
Added Pavlansky, "I'm glad he stuck around. He probably hasn't enjoyed it as much as he would have if he were playing, but he's still a big part of this team."
scalzo@vindy.com