‘Incredible comeback’: How one NC running back revived his career after injuries, setbacks

The way Kendall Scotton runs with the football, you’d guess he was born to play the sport. And based on the bloodlines of the senior running back at Cardinal Gibbons High, you’d be right.

His father, Stefen Scotton, was a Georgia Tech fullback, from 1987-90. But don’t assume Kendall was born in the end zone solely from his genetic gifts.

Prior to Kendall’s breakout 2024 season, he endured two knee surgeries, subsequent infections, endless rehab hours and an ankle injury. Those obstacles cost him nearly two varsity seasons as a sophomore and junior. Question marks remained as his senior year opened.

“There were times I had doubts that I’d be able to return to the field, but I wasn’t ready for my football career to be over just yet,” Scotton said. “I love playing football. I always tried to keep a positive mindset.”

His attitude sustained dedicated rehab work that paid off with the 5-foot-8, 170-pounder playing all 12 games this year. He leads the Crusaders in rushing yards (664, 7.0 per carry) and rushing touchdowns (eight). He’s also has 19 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s a phenomenal young man,” said Steven Wright, Gibbons’ head coach. “He’s made an incredible comeback his senior year.”

Last week Scotton carried seven times for 126 yards, with a 19-yard touchdown and a 35-yard gallop to set up another score. His play helped Gibbons beat Hillside, 52-19, in the third round of the NC High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs.

Next up, the second-seeded Crusaders (11-1) meet No. 3 seed Wilmington Hoggard (12-1) in a fourth-round game at 7 p.m. Friday on Gibbons’ campus.

Although Scotton’s season stats don’t match the overwhelming numbers posted by other teams’ leading rushers, that’s in part due to Gibbons’ balanced offense and lopsided scores spreading the ball around in the backfield.

And besides — it’s not possible to make a valid case that “664 yards” and “eight touchdowns” aren’t impressive totals for a guy coming back from being sidelined nearly two years.

“It’s truly a blessing to be able to play again,” Scotton said. “This season has been really fun for me. It’s been my best season playing and statistically.”

Injury, and recovery

Scotton’s ill-fated moment thrusting him onto the comeback trail was the first play of the second game his sophomore season. He suffered a dislocated knee cap, but the worst news was yet to come later at the doctor’s office.

The examinations revealed problems with his patellar tendons on both knees. They weren’t holding his kneecaps from riding too high. That also explained the recurring pain he had dealt with previously.

The surgeries were one knee at a time — the first in October in 2022 and the second in January 2023. But just when he thought he was on track for the start of his 2023 junior season, infections turned back this timetable.

He continued his rehab until he was cleared to play seven games into the season. But then he suffered an ankle injury in his fifth comeback game. He was sidelined for the remainder of Gibbons’ postseason run that ended with a 12-3 record in the regional final.

“It was frustrating, but I tried to do my best,” Scotton said. “To keep my spirits up and look at the bright side, I knew I had to try to control only what I could control. Whether that was football or not, I worked on factors I could control.”

Another nuance to his recovery was his inner drive without outside influence or pressure. In American sports, the cliché of pushy fathers is so entrenched a Progressive Insurance TV advertisement comedically played off it with a pushy father and rebellious son.

But the Scotton story doesn’t fall into that category.

“My dad wanted what was best for me,” Kendall said. “He wasn’t pushing me. The comeback was something I wanted, and I thank him for that.

“Both of my parents were heartbroken for me when I was injured because they know how much I love football. But I never felt my dad or mom (Tiffany) pressured me to come back.”

Forging ahead

A bonus to Scotton’s comeback story is his success has opened the door to a possible college career. He’s making plans to walk-on at Hampton University, an HBCU in Virginia that was his academic destination before his football prospects were rekindled.

Scotton was admitted to Hampton’s highly ranked aviation program to pursue his dream to become a commercial pilot. The ambition began as a kid with trips to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Observation Deck.

“I was bitten by the bug,” Kendall said. “I’ve always been intrigued with becoming a pilot and the entire industry.”

But for now, his flying is limited to gliding down the football field. The Crusaders have as many as three games remaining if they keep winning. After Friday’s fourth-round game against Hoggard, the 4A East Region final is December 13 and 4A state final the following week.

The Crusaders are riding an eight-game winning streak since suffering their only loss against Rolesville in a 30-27 overtime result. They seem to be peaking, too. In three playoff games, Gibbons has outscored its opponents 163-40: Willow Spring (60-7), Garner (51-14) and Hillside (52-19).

Comparing Gibbons’ regular-season and post-season Hillside results reflect the momentum. The Crusaders won the regular-season game 21-0, but they led 31-0 by the second quarter of the 52-19 third-round victory.

“We’re playing some good football,” Scotton said. “Our offense has been clicking and our defense has been coming up with big plays. Our team morale has been really good. Everybody is feeding off the energy.”