Back in the Game

Cody Yahn remembers being told he was in a terrible car crash. He remembers his next question centered around football.

He had no idea at the time that he almost lost everything, not just a little more than a half of a football season.

Yahn’s reminder of that day — Aug. 19, 2009 — comes from the scars on both of his arms.

His reminder of what life means to him now is reflected in a new tattoo on his left arm: “Let Jesus Christ coach you through life and you won’t lose.”

Yahn does not consider himself a religious person, but he is a believer.

“I wouldn’t be alive if I didn’t have a purpose in life,” said Yahn, a graduate of Heritage High School. “I wouldn’t be here.”

Freedom Bowl

Southwest Washington high school all-star football game, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Kiggins Bowl.

Tickets: $8.

On the Web: freedombowlclassic.com

His life nearly cut short by a head-on collision on the way to football practice last year, Yahn quickly recovered — in time to play the final four games of his senior season.

Yahn is preparing for one more high school game, this time for the East squad in the Freedom Bowl Classic, Southwest Washington’s all-star football game for Shriners charities. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Kiggins Bowl.

Yahn will be there. That in itself is worthy of celebration.

Yahn said a nurse explained to him what had happened that August day, when he woke up in a hospital.

“The first thing I asked, ‘Can I play football?’” Yahn recalled. “She said, ‘Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be able to play football ever again.’ I started crying.”

A passenger in the vehicle, Yahn was wearing his seat belt but was leaning, adjusting the radio when the collision occurred. He said the belt did save him from being ejected from the car, but the extra slack on the belt from his lean did not prevent him from smashing into the windshield. His head first, and then both arms.

The concussion was bad enough, but it was the damage to his arms — particularly the right arm — that caused the most concern for emergency personnel. Yahn’s ulnar nerve was severed, as well as 60 percent of his triceps muscle.

Yahn was later told that he nearly bled to death.

A life-altering experience, Yahn plans on adding the date of the crash underneath that tattoo — for another reminder of how things can change so quickly.

One thing that did not change is his love for football.

“The day I got out of the hospital, I went to practice because I missed it so much,” Yahn said. “I couldn’t stand watching it anymore, so I just went home.”

But he returned, of course.

“We’ve all had kids who have been injured early in the season and they just disappear. Not Cody,” Heritage coach Nate Becksted said.

In Week 2, Yahn watched his Timberwolves lose to W.F. West of Chehalis.

“I was so mad. I decided then I was coming back,” Yahn said. “I didn’t care what it took, I was coming back. I kept running. I kept doing physical therapy. I said I’ll lose my arm if I can play football one more time.”

The main drawback was the risk to his repaired ulnar nerve. A doctor said the only way Yahn would be cleared to play is if Yahn used an expensive brace that would limit the range of his elbow.

Done.

“The kid was so resilient,” Becksted said.

A few weeks later, Yahn made his debut in what turned into Heritage’s most memorable game of the season. Yahn had 12 catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns against Kelso, and the Timberwolves rallied from two touchdowns down to tie, then win in overtime.

“It was all Cody. We gave him the game ball,” Becksted said.

Yahn would love one more day of big numbers, catching passes from his high school quarterback and good friend Garrett Grayson, one of the QBs on the Freedom Bowl roster.

“I’m hoping to show people what I would have done all season,” Yahn said.

“I’m just real happy for him because he gets another chance to play,” Becksted said.

Yahn’s plans after this game include attending Clark College for a year before trying to continue his football career in college in 2011. He might play semi-pro ball, as well, to keep in game shape.

After all, he just wants to play.

Cody Yahn does not take that for granted.