RIDGEFIELD — There’s a saying Brian McLemore III often heard his father and grandfather tell him growing up, but never fully understood until one year ago.

“Play every play like it’s your last, because you never know when it’s your last,” McLemore said.

Now, the saying has become McLemore’s motto whenever he steps onto the field with his Ridgefield football teammates, serving as a reminder of the long road to recovery from a life-threatening injury he suffered last fall as a junior.

In the second quarter of a Week 3 game against Hockinson, McLemore made what appeared to be a routine tackle, but landed on the back of an opponent’s cleat.

He went to the sideline after the play, feeling like he got the wind knocked out of him. He felt dizzy, found a garbage can to throw up and immediately

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