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Hagan to make season debut tonight for C-M
Hagan heard his football playing days and opportunity for a college scholarship were over because of the heart disorder, which created a rapid heartbeat for the two-sport standout. Others said he might miss one year, maybe two.
Then, just days after Hagan made an oral commitment to play football at Ohio State University, his condition and the news drastically improved.
Doctors told Hagan, a running back and safety, a return for Canon-McMillan's first Great Southern Conference game on Oct. 2 at Upper St. Clair was possible. Surprisingly, Hagan was cleared last week to play football and that's what he'll do for the first time this year when Canon-McMillan (1-1) plays at Woodland Hills (1-1) tonight in a non-conference game.
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Hagan realizes his fortunes, which is why he plans on honoring two friends.
One of Hagan's wristbands will be dedicated to the late Jim Montecalvo, the son of Canon-McMillan coach Guy Montecalvo. The other is for Kyle Wilson, who played football at Pittsburgh Central Catholic and died last year at the age of 17.
"Jimmy and Kyle were great friends. As I was going through this I felt like somebody was pushing me through," Hagan said. "And I know it was them."
Over the past week, most of the pushing came on the practice field and Hagan couldn't be happier.
"I was pumped last week just finding out I could play again," Hagan said. "I'm not worried about being too excited. I'm excited before every game."
How much Hagan plays against a talented Woodland Hills remains to be seen and differs depending on the source.
"We're going to bring him along slowly," Montecalvo said. "It's going to take time. We're not going to just throw him out there and tell him to play both ways."
Hagan sees things differently.
"I think I'll play a lot more than Coach Montecalvo and people think," he said. "A lot of people want me to be conservative and I understand that but once we get in that groove, my relationship with Coach is strong enough, I think I'll be in there."
With Hagan on the field in 2008, Canon-McMillan blanked Woodland Hills, 10-0, in one of its top performances.
Turned out the high-quality win came at a price.
"It probably gave some kids a false sense of security. We went to Butler the next week and got licked," Montecalvo said. "We played an awful game."
The Big Macs can't afford one of those against the Wolverines, who were shut out by Stuebenville (Ohio) in their season opener but rallied to blank Connellsville last week. Three Woodland Hills players have committed to Division I schools in linebacker Mike Lee (Purdue), defensive tackle Khaynin Mosley-Smith (Pitt) and running back Dom Timbers (Syracuse).
A transfer from Central Catholic, Timbers did not play last year at Canon-McMillan while waiting for the WPIAL to approve his transfer.
"I think as far as a talent-laden team they remind me very much of the Penn Hills team we faced in the 2003 playoffs," Montecalvo said. "That team had Anthony Morelli and David Harvey, one of the best receivers I've come across as a coach. They had two running backs go to West Virginia.
"That team had five Division I players on it. This team has six. Three have committed and I believe three more will."
Related articles:
Central dispatches CM
Central Catholic rallies past C-M
Hagan could return for conference games
Heart condition keeping Hagan's season on hold
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