Comeback kid

John Elway may have earned the nickname "Comeback Kid" in the NFL, but Homewood's own Zach Sims has made his case for the name as well - specifically when it comes to turning tragedy into triumph on the football field.

In the second week of the Patriot's 2012 spring drills, Zach, the team's starting center, suffered fractures to his left tibia and fibula on the practice field. He was operated on the following day, and a metal rod was inserted in his tibia during surgery. He spent days at St. Vincent's Hospital and months in rehabilitation at Champion Sports Medicine.

"It was a heart-breaking and devastating injury for me and those around me who know how much I live and love football," Zach said. "My teammates, coaches and friends visited me in my hospital room, and all anyone could do was shake their head."

Yet, the day after surgery, Zach started back to work in physical therapy and began the long road to recovery.

Change of plans

"The family's summer calendar had to be totally overhauled," said Zach's dad, Scott Sims. "We had made numerous plans for him to participate in football camps and combines all summer, and we had made arrangements to make campus visits for those colleges who were interested in him playing football. In one moment, everything changed."

Instead of working out with his team and traveling to recruiting events, Zach spent his summer vacation maneuvering his massive 6-foot-2-inch, 286-pound frame around on a broken limb and strengthening his leg back to a better-than-ever condition in time for August two-a-days. He knew his team was counting on him.

"As Center, Zach is the ‘quarterback' of our offensive line and gives everyone their blocking assignments," Homewood's Offensive Line Coach Ben Berguson said.

In addition to the line needing a leader, the Patriot's had just been assigned a new 5A classification. As a rising senior, the whole team needed Zach and his fellow veteran starters to help lead them into new territories.

"It really doesn't matter what class or region you're in, you're going to face challenging opponents, and we had and have a host of unknowns ahead of us," quarterback Luke Porter said. "I count on Zach to play right in front of me every game, every play."

The Sims ‘twins'

Just as certain as he can count on Luke to be behind him, Zach often combines his forces with his "twin," Jordan Sims, who works beside him at right guard on the Patriot line. Together, the Sims' have cleared the way for Luke as well as the arsenal of running backs Homewood had carrying the ball in 2012, including Justin Hardy - who in February signed with Jacksonville State, Walter Rutledge and Devonta Barnfield.

While Zach was recovering from his broken leg, Jordan suffered a high ankle sprain and sat out of the beginning of the season, too. With a combined mass of more than 600 pounds, anyone carrying the ball for Homewood could breathe a little easier once the Sims' boys had recovered and were back on the line together again.

Playing with Patriot pride

"I had no doubt when Zach broke his leg (in the spring) that he would be back in the fall," Patriot Head Coach Doug Goodwin said. "And, that's just what he did."

With Zach's help, the Patriots finished the season at 9-2, losing to Greenville in the first round of the State 5A playoffs. Before the season ended though, the Alabama High School Athletic Association named him center for the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game played in December due to his outstanding performance on the field.

And on Feb. 6, Zach completed his recovery when he signed a letter of intent to attend UAB in the fall of 2013.

"I think my injury has taught me many lessons, but the greatest are to never take anything for granted and to never give up," he said.

-Submitted by Homewood City Schools