As a senior in high school, Sterling Lowry had outlined the next few years of his life. He wanted to play his senior year of football at Nottingham (New York) High School, graduate with a diploma and move on to college football at either the Division III or Division I level, something he dreamt of since he was 5 years old, he said.

On the first play from scrimmage in an exhibition against Waterloo High School, things changed.

His head coach at the time, Nick Patterson, called a zone read running play. At quarterback, Lowry watched the defensive lineman zoned in on stopping the running back. Lowry, keeping his eye on the defender, sprinted toward the edge, around the side of his left tackle. The opposing linebacker raced toward Lowry and chose to dive at his lower body. As the Waterloo defender plunged forward, Lowry heard a pop in his left knee.

Four years removed from a torn ACL and LCL in that knee, Wagner (1-0) senior captain and starting cornerback Lowry leads the Seahawks into the Carrier Dome this weekend to face Syracuse (1-0). The Syracuse native attended Nottingham, which is located about three miles east of SU. Last season, he started all 11 games for Wagner and recorded 39 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

After the ACL tear, Lowry completed extensive rehab during his senior season. Lowry’s stepfather, Shedrick Williams, was perhaps his biggest help. He made sure that his son was never just sitting idly by as he wallowed into despair over the possibility of a derailed football career. Dragging him along to the grocery store or forcing him to watch his brother’s basketball games, Lowry’s parents wanted to keep his mind active.

“I have … wonderful people in my corner,” Lowry said. “They played a big part in my rehab and getting back to full strength.”

About half a year later, Lowry was cleared by his doctors to return to action, said Sheldon Lloyd, Lowry’s defensive backs coach at Nottingham.

At first, Lowry didn’t trust his athleticism. He was worried that if he pushed himself too hard, he would re-injure his leg.

Instead, he focused on improving his mind. Lloyd, who also coached Lowry in Pop Warner, invited Lowry into his office. There, he watched film and studied how to become a better player.

“He was always a smart kid and he always knew where to be on the field,” Lloyd said. “After he got hurt, he continued to work hard to get better. He wanted to improve in some way so he went ahead and got his mind right.”

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Now, as Lowry returns to central New York to face his hometown school, he’s a more complete player, he said. Following an arduous and extensive rehabilitation program, Lowry is quicker, stronger and more intelligent.

Even though he’s only watched game tape of the pre-surgery Lowry, and never seeing that version in person, Wagner head coach Jason Houghtaling knows this version is an upgrade.

“Ever since day one, he’s really been a team guy but he’s worked his tail off in the weight room,” Houghtaling said. “He’s gotten bigger and faster, and that’s translated onto the football field for sure.”

Published on September 6, 2018 at 12:21 am

Contact Adam: adhillma@syr.edu | @_adamhillman