Bouncing Back
Tuesday, December 1 , 2009
By JOSH STROPE- The Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register
When Weirton Madonna tailback A.J. Klein went down in Week 6 against Clarksburg Notre Dame with a broken collarbone, the thought around those familiar with the program was ''here we go again.''
The dark cloud that seemingly hung over Bob Kramer's program was at it again. Injuries to Jake Myers in 2004 and Klein and Max Nogay last season played a huge part in the the team's failure to win the West Virginia Class A title game.
Now here was Klein, having a magnificent bounce-back season in which he was the fourth-leading rusher among Ohio Valley small schools with 596 yards and seven rushing touchdowns (11 total), and down he goes again.
''Bummer,'' Klein said.
With the leadership of guys like Nogay and Lou Comis, and one of the best coaching staffs in the valley, Weirton Madonna didn't miss a beat, finishing the season undefeated and earning a shot in the Class A championship game Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium.
And if that wasn't enough to get excited about, guess who's back?
''Hopefully I get to play a good bit of the game,'' Klein said. ''It's been some bad luck but I just keep working hard.''
Doctors have cleared Klein to play against Man as he gets the chance to compete in the game that eluded him last season.
For Klein, it's been back luck after bad luck.
A broken hand sidelined him his sophomore season. Last season in a semifinal game against St. Marys, while blocking on a punt return, his knee was run into, tearing the MCL.
This season against the Fighting Irish, it was a routine play. A player pushed him out of bounds and he landed on his collarbone.
''It hurt pretty bad,'' he said.
Doctors told Klein that he could have taken the same hit 100 times and landed the same way. All it took was one time to land perfectly on it.
His season was seemingly over ... again.
''I didn't think (I would be able to play again),'' Klein said. ''It was a lot of pain, way worse than my knee. Collarbone is slow. It just won't heal, but it's healed good enough where I will be able to go. Doctor said I could.''
Klein has dressed the past few weeks and has seen time punting. In last week's semifinal victory, he even got a carry on a crucial fourth down against Wheeling Central.
Even though he was stopped for a loss on the play, it showed Klein could still take a hit.
''I haven't had any worries, just trying not to think about it too much,'' Klein said.
His collarbone is still wrapped and he has to be careful, but there should be no lingering problems. It isn't 100 percent healthy and because he's been out of the game plan for so long, he may only get a few carries.
His backup, Jimmy Deter, has filled in nicely, rushing for 857 yards and six scores. Nogay has also taken on more of the load.
''We are hoping to get A.J. a little more involved this week,'' Kramer said. ''He's starting to work his way back into things, and he's healed to play. How much he'll play is undetermined.''
But just getting on that field will be more than enough for Klein. It will bring his career to a close, full-circle as he tries to help the Blue Dons capture their first title since 1987.
''It's going to be amazing, especially to play on turf,'' the speedback said.
