Mason Moyer has had a senior high school year to remember – and it’s not even halfway over.
The standout running back from Norwayne High School in Wayne County has wrapped up an achievement-filled football season despite suffering a fractured rib and partially-collapsed left lung at the start of his post season.
Mason and his mother, Jennifer Moyer, credit Akron Children’s, and Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Joseph Iocono, in particular, with helping with his return to play.
Mason’s injury came during Norwayne’s game against Dalton High School on Oct. 11.
Following Dr. Iocono’s guidance, Mason was able to return to play on Oct. 25 for Norwayne’s critical showdown for Wayne County’s Athletic League title – delivering a 27-carry, 201-yard, three touchdown performance and 45-21 win against Hillsdale High.
But not without pain.
Dr. Joseph Iocono
Dr. Iocono says rib fractures take six weeks to full heal, so Mason’s pain was not unexpected.
The key to greenlighting his return to play was closely monitoring his healing via frequent radiology exams and other assessments and gradually increasing his activity during practices.
Dr. Iocono stressed his need to wear additional chest protection for the rest of the season.
Mason remembers the fateful plays that lead to his injury quite vividly.
“We were past the 50-yard line, about to score, when I first got hit,” he recalled. “I was wrapped up but still standing and still trying to get more yardage. That’s when the defense collapsed, and I received a pretty major hit. I kept playing and scored. It was probably my adrenaline.”
At the beginning of the second quarter, Mason scored again.
“I had to dive in for that and I think I just received another hit and that’s when I couldn’t breathe,” he said.
He’s taken a lot of hits over the years, but these seemed different.
He was taken out of the game and began a series of medical assessments, first at a local adult hospital and then Akron Children’s over that weekend.
“Honestly, Mason’s whole season could have ended,” said Jennifer. “The fact that he came back two weeks later is just a miracle, and we [my husband Glenn and I] really do credit Akron Children’s. I have never met a doctor who would email me back so quickly [with answers to my questions] and would ask not just about how his feeling but about this future career in football that’s so important to him.”
Norwayne won its first play-off game against Delta High School 45-42 on Nov. 1 with major contributions from Mason – 314 yards, 16 yards receiving, a 65-yard kick return, a 33 yard- punt return and 4 touchdowns.
While his team’s season ended short of a state championship during the second playoff game to Eastwood High School on Nov. 8, Mason still finished the night with 216 yards, 2 touchdowns and being named the game’s “Most Valuable Player.”
Mason hopes to play football in college and is thinking of pre-med for his major.
Now that his season is over, he has more time to think about next steps. He would love to play football in college and schools like Baldwin-Wallace, Kent State and Ashland are places he would like to visit. Jennifer notes his academic record is a nice complement to his football stats.
Mason was already thinking about a pre-med major but his interaction with Akron Children’s and Dr. Iocono has made that even more top of mind.
The Moyer family on a recent visit to upstate New York, where Logan lives.
“Another big inspiration is my older brother, Logan, who is in chiropractic school.” said Mason. “He’s almost 24 and there’s a six year age gap between us, but he just always been a big role model of mine.”
Jennifer notes that while Logan has been away in upstate New York at his chiropractic school, he has been able to watch Norwayne’s games and cheer on Mason via live streaming – the next best thing to the in-person experience of “Friday Night Lights” in Northeast Ohio.
Lots of family support – Mason with his dad, grandfather Glenn Sr. and Aunt Tara.
Mason’s Uncle Mike and Aunt Christi came from Tennessee to see a few games.
