Your life can change in a split second and when it does many more lives can be affected and forever be intertwined and that’s what happened Friday night at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill early in the third quarter as the Rockets took on Moore County in the annual Homecoming football game.

It was a first down play when the Raiders attempted a pass that was broke up for an incompletion by Forrest sophomore cornerback Micah McClendon.

McClendon didn’t get up after the hit, but all in attendance were expecting him to like he always does. He didn’t get up and laid motionless on the field as emergency first responders attended to the 15-year old.

After about 30 minutes or so McClendon was taken by ambulance to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt where it was determined that he had suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck.

On Saturday, McClendon had an extensive surgical procedure to repair the broken vertebrae and take pressure off the rest of his spinal column.

His long term prognosis was undetermined at press time, but we all are praying and hoping for a full recovery by McClendon.

Prayer Vigil

The Chapel Hill community immediately sprung in to action in support of McClendon, beginning with a Sunday evening prayer vigil at the Forrest gymnasium.

It was a packed house, including a tremendous touch of class and support by the Moore County football team that was in attendance, along with McClendon’s wrestling and football friends from neighboring Eagleville.

Forrest principal Angie Phifer, coaches Eli Stephenson and Kyle Stacey, and Jamie Pratt delivered prayers and heartfelt speeches to the crowd.

But what got me and all of the people there was a message delivered from Micah’s mom Laura McClendon by Holts Corner Baptist Church senior pastor and longtime Forrest football kicking coach Larry “RoHo” Chatman.

Laura McClendon urged the people to unite in prayer for her young son and thanked everyone for all the support directed towards her family.

At the end of the ceremony the Rockets came together at mid-court to deliver their chant of “Thank God I’m a Forrest Rocket” that Chatman leads on the field after every football game.

It was a powerful moment in time and one I will never, ever forget.

Community springs in to action

The support system went in to full blast as the Chapel Hill community, along with all the surrounding communities and far away communities sprung in to charitable action to lift up and provide emotional and monetary relief to the family.

Many local businesses have offered up a percentage of sales proceeds to the cause, a myriad of fundraisers and music events have been planned, and Tee-shirts and armbands with MicahStrong#11 are on the way as a united front in support of the McClendon family.

“We have been a part of this community for over 20 years,” Laura McClendon said. “We would not have wanted our boys to grow up anywhere but Chapel Hill.”

“The overwhelming love, support, thoughts, prayers, and acts of kindness is such a blessing to Micah and our family.”

McClendon toughness and greatness a pillar stone in Chapel Hill

The McClendon name in Chapel Hill and around the Midstate is synonymous for toughness and greatness in the sporting arenas.

It all began with Micah’s oldest brother Tyler, who became the first male Forrest athlete to win a state championship in any sport when he finished the 2013-2014 wrestling campaign with a 38-1 record and in dominating fashion, went undefeated in state tournament action in the 195-pound weight class to claim the state title.

He was also a standout running back and linebacker on the Forrest football team and went on to have a great collegiate wrestling career at Middle Tennessee State University.

Micah wears his oldest brothers’ #11 jersey.

Zach McClendon was a junior when Tyler graduated and he went on to finish a stellar career as a Rocket, shattering the Forrest single season rushing marks in both touchdowns (28) and rushing yards (1,948) and was selected as the District 9-A MVP and All-State by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association at the end of the 2014-2015 season.

Next on the sporting scene was Nick McClendon who also wrestled like his oldest brother Tyler.

Nick McClendon had an outstanding career as a Rocket and as he chased his older brother’s Zach single season rushing marks in 2019, the kid proved just how tough he was as he was visibly sick during a mid-season contest at Summertown and it was later found out that he had appendicitis.

During that game, McClendon rushed for touchdowns on back-to-back plays after the first score was called back on a holding penalty. The Rockets won 13-6 and McClendon ending up with 106 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Saturday morning McClendon had surgery and remarkably he was back at film study on Sunday morning with the team, not wanting to miss anything.

After missing two games, he returned to the lineup versus Lewis County and rushed for 177 yards on 20 carries, including a 71-yard touchdown run as the Rockets won 16-13 to claim the Region 5-AA championship.

The Rockets took a 10-0 undefeated record in to the Class 2A state playoffs and won two more games to shatter the all-time school record for wins in a season at 12-0.

The following Friday, the Rockets got robbed in the state quarterfinals and the season was over.

Nick McClendon just missed breaking Zach’s records, finishing the 2019 campaign with 201 carries for 1,914 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Rockets.

He was named as the Region MVP, a Class 2A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist, and an All-State player.

That’s not it

In the 2018 wrestling season, Zach McClendon went undefeated at 15-0 in the 170-pound weight class and was one of three Forrest grapplers that captured state titles. McClendon won in dominating fashion, displaying flair, style, and ultra-toughness.

Forrest wrestling legend Jeff Gross (138) won his third consecutive state title in 2018 and Wesley McCoy captured the state crown in the 160-pound weight Divison.

In his senior year in 2019, McClendon did it again, but this time he did it injured as he suffered a torn meniscus in practice leading up to the state tournament.

That McClendon toughness shined at the Ag Center in Franklin as he swept through the 170-pound bracket once again to claim back-to-back state titles.

“I have always loved all of my Rockets, all my boys,” Laura McClendon said. “Being able to be a ‘Football Mamma’ is what keeps my spirit going. Thank God I'm a Forrest Rocket!”

“Tyler, Zach, Nick and Micah say thank you to everyone and I am forever grateful to be in this community.”

These kids are tough and as they help their youngest brother in his recovery, we as them just want one thing, just get up Micah, just get up.

Events and fundraisers

For more information on charitable events or fundraisers visit the CHTA-Forrest Rocket Football and I Heart Chapel Hill, TN Facebook pages.