A broken leg nearly ended his playing career. Meet Northside’s kicker Ashton Paredes

Northside kicker Ashton Paredes lined up for routine against Lee County in early November of 2020. The result of the play would be anything but routine. Paredes’ plant leg slipped from underneath him.

His quad muscle had ripped a tendon from his knee and leg had snapped in two places.

The now-junior kicker, who also played on the defensive line his sophomore year, knew something was wrong when he heard a snap. Paredes isn’t sure if it was actually the sound of his leg-breaking or if it was something he felt and the noise was internal but he knew it wasn’t good.

His coach Chad Alligood and trainers ran on the field to attend to him. Alligood said he knew instantly it was a broken leg.

“When he planted his leg, you saw it snap. As a coach, I remember going out there like it was yesterday,” Alligood said. “You could look in his eyes and could see some fear of what just happened. I remember telling him on the field, ‘Ashton, we can’t change it right now. You just got to be positive.’”

Paredes was rushed to the hospital and was taken back quickly for surgery due to acute compartment syndrome, typically seen in severe trauma incidents like car accidents. According to the Cleveland Clinic, without treatment, acute compartment syndrome can cause permanent muscle damage and can also lead to disability, paralysis or death.

Paredes said he remembers his foot being cold from the acute compartment syndrome when he arrived at the hospital. But his mind wasn’t on health at this point.

“Before the surgeon gave me the anesthesia to go into surgery, I asked my mom what the score of the game was,” Paredes said. “It was going through my head if I would ever be able to play again.”

Four weeks ahead

After the surgery came a cast, the plan was for him to be in it for 6-8 weeks. He was out of his cast in four weeks. Alligood said at each step of the process Paredes was about a month ahead of schedule.

By May, he was starting to kick the football again. Alligood said it was a testament to his work ethic and approach to rehab in a positive way.

Paredes said the rehab was hard, especially towards the end. It was a painful process but he credits his support system of his parents, coaches and teammates for helping him push through.

“I remember when I got my phone back after the surgery, I had so many messages from coaches, teammates, friends,” Paredes said. “That support and my family’s support really helped me get through the situation.”

One of the most challenging moments during Paredes’ journey to comeback from his injury was kicking the ball again for the first time.

He said when he stepped up to it he was nervous. The injury popped in his mind and he was worried about another injury.

Just past the 11th month mark since his injury, Paredes would help propel the Eagles to a win over Valdosta with a pair of field goals to tie and take the lead with five seconds left.

He had missed on an attempt earlier in the game but his final two went through the uprights and were the deciding factor in the win.

“During the moment I was just locked in. I was trying to focus on what I do,” he said. “I was more nervous for the one that tied it up. The game-winner I felt like I could make that easy.”

While his kick to beat Valdosta and ultimately help Northside lock up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs may have been straightforward, Alligood was proud to see his kicker get his moment after a recovery that was anything but easy.

“To see him go out there make that kick and just the expression on his face and see his teammates erupt for him, that’s what it’s all about,” Alligood said. “When it happened against Lee County, he couldn’t see that far down the road. None of us could. But to see him less than a year away from breaking his leg, you can’t put it into words.”

College plans

After his time at Northside is over, Paredes hopes to go to college and play football. He plans to major in either aerospace engineering or meteorology.

He finds the weather fascinating, including tornadoes and hurricanes. He says he can feel a difference in his surgically repaired knee when barometric pressure changes.

Northside has a bye week before entering the playoffs. The Eagles will host a home playoff game on Nov. 12. Much like Paredes this team has been looking for a comeback.

After reaching the title game in 2018, the Eagles have struggled to find success on the football field. But in Alligood’s second year as the head coach, the Eagles are 7-3 and are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Alligood said Paredes and his rehab embodies what Northside has gone through as a team

“I think Ashton and this football team has mirrored each other over the last two years,” Alligood said. “You just got to keep working for when that moment happens you got to be ready for it. Ashton was ready for it against Valdosta.”