For one local high school senior, football was sidelined when life threw him a challenge tougher than any opponent.

He took the field Friday after suffering a heat stroke one year ago, a moment his family says had him fighting for his life.

August 27, 2024

August 27, 2024, was hot with temperatures in the 90s. At the time, Taeshawn Nelson was a junior at East Central when his family says he collapsed from heatstroke.

His father, Toby, got the call at work that something was wrong. By the time EMS arrived, Taeshawn was nonresponsive.

“It was very tough to see him like that,” said Toby.

He was rushed to the hospital, and his family says he had liver and kidney damage.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it because he had been practicing all summer and never indicated anything that something

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