Wrightstown’s Peters shows true strength

Jacob Peters couldn’t help but smile after booting the opening kickoff last Friday.

It may have been just another routine special teams play to most people.

But not to Peters.

The Wrightstown senior knows every opportunity he has to be on the field with his teammates is truly special.

“It’s pretty amazing because he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to play the game again,” Wrightstown senior Luke Haese said. “Now, he can do anything again. He’s playing defense. He’s kicking. He’s punting. He’s doing it all for us. We’ve got his back no matter what, and he’s got ours.”

It was almost two years ago that Peters faced the scary situation of being airlifted to the hospital after sustaining multiple injuries that made for a long and tough road to recovery.

Most people would have never tried playing a sport like football again after overcoming something like that.

Peters, however, isn’t like most people.

The thought of returning to the field never left his mind, and just like he does regularly with his kicks, Peters made good on his attempt last year when he was cleared to return midway through the season.

“My motivation was to prove people wrong and show that anyone can come back no matter how bad anything is.” Peters said.

“It was huge to know the whole community was behind me and that they supported me.”

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After being eased back into the lineup last year, Peters has returned to the form that made him a second-team all-North Eastern Conference choice as a sophomore.

The 6-foot-1, 160-pounder has reclaimed the kicking and punting duties for the Tigers in addition to contributing as a defensive back.

“We were doing a tackling circuit one day, and I took my first real big hit,” Peters said. “Then after that, I was like, ‘I’m back. This is me again.’”

Peters earned playing time as a freshman on the football team thanks to his strong right leg, which he developed playing soccer since the age of 5.

Peters still plays indoor soccer during the winter and decided to work on his foot speed last spring when he went out for track and field for the first time.

“He’s always positive,” Haese said. “He’s always upbeat. We knew he would get through it because that’s just the kind of guy he is.”

Entering his senior year of high school, Peters isn’t sure yet what he wants to do following graduation.

However, Peters will surely make the most of whatever career he pursues.

“God gave me a second chance for a reason,” Peters said. “I just have to make it count and make sure I follow that path that he has for me.”