"When you hear that you're not going to be back on the field again with your teammates, it takes your breath away," said Inge, who was Williamstown's top rusher, dependable defensive back, and unquestioned team leader when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last weekend at Kingsway.
Wigley filled almost exactly the same role for Shawnee before tearing the ACL in his left knee at home against Clearview. He was tops on the team in rushing yards and touchdowns. He was a standout defensive back. He was an acknowledged leader.
"The first thing you think about is how hard you worked for this and how it's your senior year and you'll never get another chance," Wigley said. "It's like, 'This is it? How do you go forward?'"
Their experiences were eerily similar. When Wigley went down against Clearview, he knew something was wrong because he couldn't get up.
"I always bounce up," Wigley said. "But this time I couldn't."
Inge felt the same way.
"I always pop right back up, even if something is hurting," Inge said. "But I couldn't do it."
Wigley is about a month ahead of Inge in dealing with this unwanted new experience. He has been through the emotional stages. He has come to terms with his new role: part-time cheerleader, part-time assistant coach, full-time inspiration for his teammates.
"You just want to be with your teammates, help out in any way you can," Wigley said of a Shawnee team that is 5-2 and likely headed to the South Jersey Group 4 tournament.
When Shawnee rallied for a 20-16 victory over Cherry Hill East on Oct. 6, the first thing quarterback Jamie Jackopin said after the game was that Wigley had given him the confidence to succeed before the go-ahead drive.
"I was thinking about him the whole time," Jackopin said.
