Sumter County defensive end Jaquaveus McKenzie was ready for the 2023 football season. Following a freshman season in 2022 that saw him earn playing time with the varsity team, mostly on third-down situations rushing the quarterback, while also playing for the junior varsity squad, McKenzie was looking forward to being part of Sumter County’s starting defense in 2023.
That anticipation only grew stronger following a couple of impressive performances in Sumter County’s two preseason scrimmage games. Everyone could see it. McKenzie was ready for the next step.
Finally, the 2023 season opener had arrived. It was a highly anticipated matchup between the Panthers and the Houston County Bears, one of the state’s top Class 6A programs led by one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Antwann “AJ” Hill.
McKenzie’s job as a defensive end was to get after the quarterback, and the opening game against Hill and Houston County would be an immediate test for him.
That test ended about as quickly as it started.
“I Knew It Was Bad”
Houston County and Hill had the ball early in the first quarter.
On a running play, McKenzie was taking on a block when his right knee buckled. Head coach Will Rogers remembers the play.
“Quay (McKenzie) was taking on a ‘kick out’ block by an H-back for the other team,” Rogers said. “He tried to split it, but you could see his knee just give out. I knew it was bad.”
McKenzie had suffered a serious injury: a complete tear of his ACL and MCL. His season was over.
“Losing Quay was a huge loss for us,” Rogers said.
It has also been tough for McKenzie.
“Quay has fought through the mental battles that something like that can do to anybody,” Rogers said. “I watched how it was breaking him down emotionally right after he suffered the injury.”
Vincent Kearse, whose son Aaron “AJ” Kearse is a standout player for the Panthers and McKenzie’s teammate, is close to McKenzie. The elder Kearse talked about how hard it was as a parent and a fan of the team to watch McKenzie go through the injury and its impact on the young man.
“Quay was so devastated when he first injured his knee because he was looking forward to having a good season,” Kearse said. “He loves to compete.”
Once the shock of the injury subsided, McKenzie underwent surgery to repair his damaged knee. The operation was performed by Macon orthopedic surgeon Dr. L. Jared Hudspeth, according to Rogers. The surgery was followed up with weeks and weeks of intense rehabilitation.
“Quay began to really focus on his road to recovery,” Rogers said. “He began to motivate himself and attack his rehab. He began to really grind.”
McKenzie had turned his attention and focus to doing whatever it took to get back to playing football.
“Quay is a fighter and a very determined young man,” Vincent Kearse said. “He’s been working very hard with his rehab.”
Following a season of rehabilitation and watching his teammates from the sideline while balancing on crutches, the time has come to hopefully see McKenzie’s return to the field in 2024.
Rogers said that McKenzie will have his final appointment on July 25, and the expectation is that the defensive end will be cleared to return to play. It will be McKenzie’s junior season.
Rogers said he can’t wait to get McKenzie back.
“We expect him to return to the same great player he was before the injury,” Rogers said. “We expect a huge season from him and the rest of our defensive line. It’s the strength of our team.”
For Kearse, it’ll be good to see the young McKenzie back out there doing what he loves.
“Quay loves to compete, and he loves to smile,” Kearse said. “He’s a fighter and a very determined young man. I can’t wait to see him smile again.”
Jaquaveus McKenzie and his Sumter County teammates will open their 2024 season on Aug. 16 at Crisp County.
