Payne, Pfaffman come back for senior seasons

Numbers 57 and 58 on the Oak Mountain High School football team walked away in unison from the Eagles’ practice field on a steamy evening in early September.

Will Pfaffman, No. 57, was on the right, with a black brace strapped around his right knee. Jacob Payne, No. 58, was on the left, with a black brace strapped around his left knee.

Both carried their helmets in their hands as they made their way toward the team’s weight room to lift. Even after a long afternoon practice, more work remained.

But that was fine with them. Pfaffman and Payne persevered to reach this point and have big goals for their senior seasons.

“I want to go to the playoffs,” Payne said. “I want to play our butts off and just show our whole community who we are and what we can do.”

Pfaffman, a linebacker, and Payne, a defensive end, have already shown those two things to their teammates and coaches.

The only reason both are even on the field this fall is because of their determination to rebound from knee injuries that ended their junior seasons prematurely.

“If we’re going to make the strides that I know we’re capable of making, those two guys are going to be key to us getting it done,” Eagles head coach Cris Bell said.

Oak Mountain allowed more than 28 points per game during its two-win 2018 season, but the team navigated its schedule without two important pieces.

Payne, who was battling for a starting linebacker spot, went down in practice the week before the opening game.

“My leg was planted in the ground, and one of the corners came over and tried to dive,” he said. “He completely missed the running back.”

Instead, he found Payne’s left knee. The blow tore his ACL, meniscus root and two other ligaments. It also severed the peroneal nerve that runs down his leg and into his foot.

Payne said he first thought that he broke his leg, but a visit to the orthopaedist revealed the full extent of his damage. He learned he would be out for six to nine months and miss the entire football season.

“I may have cried because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to play,” Payne said. “I knew it was going to be a rough road. It was heartbreaking.”

Payne underwent two surgeries after his injury and then began the rehabilitation process. On Fridays, he watched games from a wheelchair on the sideline because he couldn’t stand for four quarters.

“You feel hopeless, and you feel like you can’t do anything,” Payne said. “It’s just tough sitting on the sideline.”

It wasn’t too long before he had company. In the fourth game of the season against Hoover, Pfaffman cut to avoid a block. His right knee caved in the process.

“It wasn’t like it was extremely painful,” he said, “but I just felt it collapse, and I just knew it felt off.”

Pfaffman didn’t play another snap last season after walking off the field at Heardmont Park. He was diagnosed with a torn ACL and meniscus. Surgery soon followed.

“He really was the captain of our defense as far as getting us in the right place and making sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” Bell said. “When we lost him, we lost a vital piece up front.”

The silver lining for Pfaffman and Payne was that they had each other to lean on as they mended. The two met at a camp when they were in elementary school and are best friends.

“We both we’re in it together,” Pfaffman said. “... I didn’t see it coming, but it was a good experience because it was humbling and taught us to work hard.”

Both players were cleared to return to full contact over the summer after completing extensive physical therapy. Although they had to overcome some initial apprehension, Pfaffman and Payne said they both feel like themselves again on the field. This season, both start on Oak Mountain’s defense.

“They have credibility,” Bell said, “and they bring leadership that we desperately need.”

According to his coach, Pfaffman hasn’t lost a step since his injury. Bell said his linebacker is stronger and better than he was a year ago.

Payne’s injury, on the other hand, necessitated a position change from linebacker to defensive end. He still can’t lift his left foot because the severed nerve hasn’t fully healed.

Bell said he wouldn’t have faulted Payne for leaving football in his past after such a devastating injury. But that wasn’t an option for Payne, whom Bell lauded for exemplifying a “warrior” mentality.

“He brings so much to our locker room with just his presence and the way he’s fought through this thing — and excelled through it,” Bell said. “He’s not 100%, but man, he’s really playing well.”

Pfaffman and Payne aren’t sure if they’ll play college football. Thanks to their injuries, though, both have clear long-term visions. Eventually, they would like to become physical therapists.

“I wanted to do it before, but I didn’t have a strong urge to do it,” Payne said. “But after my injury, that’s what I want to do. I want to help people.”