HAWLEY — In the Region I-2A DI title game with Stratford last December, Hawley’s Tate “Cowboy” Scott was charging downfield on punt coverage when he landed awkwardly, tearing the ACL in his right knee — a diagnosis that threatened the remainder of his football career. 

“It was right after halftime on our second drive,” recalled Scott. “I went over a kid to try to tackle someone and I just heard a bunch of pops and that was that.” 

Surgery followed in January, after which he was told that he faced approximately six to eight months of rehab before being able to play again — slim timing for him to get the work done and suit up for Hawley’s season opener at Roscoe on Aug. 30. 

There were no guarantees, in fact, his doctors were reluctant to release him on time — a decision they eventually reversed. And as it stands right now, “Cowboy” has been suiting up for preseason scrimmages and is expected to start for the Bearcats at Roscoe.