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NHS
graduate
Brandon Hazenberg
is back in action |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
 What turned out to be the start of a great game ended up being one of
frustration for Brandon Hazenberg Saturday.
Hazenberg, a 2001 graduate of Newberg High School, suffered a knee injury
when he was tackled on a punt return near the end of the first half of Linfield
College’s 23-20 victory over Wartburg College in the second round of the NCAA
Division III national playoffs on Saturday.
With just over a minute left before halftime, Hazenberg caught the punt and
did what he was famous for in high school — making tacklers miss. After catching the
ball, Hazenberg ran right and was nearly tackled several times. But he squeezed out of the
grasp of Wartburg defenders and reversed the field and got into the open field before he
was tackled near midfield. The play set up a touchdown three plays later that put Linfield
(11-0 and Northwest Conference champion) a 17-6 halftime lead. But on the play, Hazenberg
took a hard hit to the knee. He had it wrapped in ice at halftime and never returned.
Hazenberg was scheduled to have an MRI on his knee later in the week but wasn’t sure
what the outcome would be.
“I might have chipped a bone off the inside of my knee and might have
torn the MCL,” he said.
But on play, the Wartburg tackler had his helmet fly off before opening a
gash on his face that required seven stitches. The pair had to see a doctor after the game
to receive medical attention and both were in good spirits.
“We were kind of joking around about it after the game,” Hazenberg
said.
But it was those types of plays, such as the one in which Hazenberg received
the injury, that has typified him this year. He was a first team Northwest Conference
selection as a punt returner and a second team selection as a wide receiver — not bad
for a player who didn’t play at all last season due to a severe shoulder injury.
Hazenberg played his freshman year at Linfield but sat out his sophomore
season due to a rotator cuff and labrum surgery. The injuries, he said, came from playing
football in high school and throwing the javelin for the Newberg track team.
But Hazenberg played his freshman year and started six games on the defensive
side of the ball at cornerback. He was sixth on the team in tackles and also returned
kickoffs for about half of the season. But he withdrew from Linfield as a sophomore and
took courses at Portland Community College while he was recovering as he did physical
therapy about three times a week for about eight months. He said he was a little
apprehensive about putting the pads back on this year.
“Coming into the season I was a little worried if I was going to be able
to take a hit with my shoulder, but it’s fine,” he said.
Hazenberg went back to Linfield during the spring term and while working on
his rehabilitation, he said the coaches felt they had filled the cornerback slot and
wanted to try him out at receiver. So Hazenberg concentrated on receiving during the
spring and results have paid off.
“It’s worked out well,” he said.
Linfield, ranked No. 3 in the nation, must think so as well because Hazenberg
caught 28 catches for 404 yards (14.4 yards per catch) to go along with four touchdowns
this season. He also led the conference with 15 punt returns for a total of 153 yards and
ranks fourth in the conference in kickoff returns with an average of 21.2 yards per
return.
But the stats will be of little concern if Hazenberg isn’t able to play
Saturday when Linfield travels to Minnesota to take on No. 2-ranked St. John’s.
“Hopefully this knee thing isn’t too serious,” he said.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to play in a big game like this one.” |
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From Dec. 3,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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