Last Friday against Dorman, Byrnes DE Jackson Delaney had the game of his life.
Two sacks. Eight tackles. A tackle for loss and a blocked field goal. Delaney was on another level on the field that night.
“That was one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play,” said Byrnes head coach Reggie Shaw. “He was out of his mind that day.”
Turns out, that day had been a heavy one for Delaney.
The strength it took for him to dominate on defense? It was nothing compared to the strength he used earlier that day — in the team’s weekly “Circle Talk” meetings.
Delaney stood up in front of everyone, and he told his teammates about his father’s stage 4 cancer.
“I just knew when I had my circle talk last Friday that everyone on the team was going to love on me and support me through it,” said Delaney. “Something that has definitely changed in recent years is the love and leadership we have on the team. So, ultimately, I was almost happy, in a way, to share my life story with the guys.”
Jackson’s father, Michael, battled colon cancer years ago, and he had it dead to rights. The disease had dissipated from his body until around six months ago, when doctors delivered Michael devastating news.
His cancer had come back, and it returned with more ferocity than ever. It had already progressed to stage four.
The outlook — and timeline — doctors handed Michael was grim.
“My dad’s my best friend,” said Jackson. “We did everything together growing up. Before all of this had happened, things had become more distant, but we still called each other every night. We talk about everything, and specifically fantasy football. We love playing fantasy football together.”
Fantasy football isn’t the only football Michael loves, either.
Despite his ailments, Michael makes it all the way up from his home in Florida every Friday.
There’s no chance he’s going to miss one of Jackson’s games.
“He was actually here to watch me tonight,” Jackson said after Byrnes’ win over Riverside on Oct. 3. “We got a picture together after the game.”
It took Jackson a lot of strength and courage to open up to his teammates about what was going on with his father. But he also felt a semblance of relief.
He’s known for a while that his teammates and coaches — his “brothers” — all are strong shoulders for him to lean on.
But he’s leaning on one specific shoulder a lot these days. And for good reason.
Byrnes tight ends coach Craig Weick understands Jackson’s sorrow all too well.
“When I found out about what was happening with Jackson’s dad, I knew I was put where I was for a reason,” said Weick. “I knew Jackson was going to need someone to lean on.”
Weick was previously the wide receivers coach for Byrnes, but before this season began, he moved over to coaching tight ends. Jackson, who also plays tight end occasionally, works with Weick in practice one day a week.
The timing couldn’t have worked out better for the two of them.
Weick had the chance to share his story with Jackson. He’d been in the same shoes as his senior star. Weick’s father, Tom, passed away from cancer in 2023.
“My dad, he was originally diagnosed with cancer back in the early 2000s,” said Weick. “He beat it, and then it stayed away for a while. It came back stronger in 2017, and two years ago, that was when he passed away.
“I was 30 when cancer came for my dad. Jackson’s 18. I couldn’t even begin to fathom what he was going through at such a young age.”
Weick’s biggest piece of advice to Jackson? Cherish every second he has.
When Jackson gets older, Weick says, he’ll be so incredibly thankful he did.
“You never know how much time someone has left, just in general. Our time could end at any moment,” said Weick. “But with cancer, you’re really hit by just how finite it is. I’ve seen it myself. I’ve hurt because of it.
“I challenged Jackson to talk with his dad as much as he can. Call him as much as he possibly can, and learn from him. Let him tell you the stories you’ll soon be wishing you could hear. Ask the things you won’t be able to ask about when you’re older.”
In his time of hurting, Jackson’s never been more thankful for the friend Weick has been to him.
“It’s really a matter of how much time is left,” said Delaney, holding back a tear. “And Coach Weick, he’s been in the same place I’ve stood. He’s felt what I’ve felt. He’s really shown me how to see just how valuable time is. He has no idea how much he’s helped me.”
Those nightly phone calls between Jackson and his dad used to last minutes. Now, they chat endlessly about life and anything under the sun.
“That’s one of the things Jackson has told me. He said ‘Coach, we used to talk for maybe five or so minutes each night. Now, we’re on the phone for two to three hours every night.”
In those conversations, football remains a big topic for Jackson. And on Friday morning, he got to call and deliver his dad the best football-related news ever.
Jackson had just received his first offer to play in college.
“I called him right after I got the offer,” said Jackson. “He was so ecstatic. That was something we’d talked about and something I knew he wanted for me. To be able to tell him that, it was amazing.”
Jackson’s past two games have been arguably two of his career best. He knows his dad is going to continue to be in the stands for him as long as he can. That’s his fuel, his drive, his motivation.
“I truly believe the tribulation he’s experiencing right now is giving him fuel,” said Weick. “This summer, he was in the weight room without air conditioning, putting in nonstop work. He wants to go out on the field and make his dad proud every single day.
He wants to be able to make it to the next level, and tell his dad, ‘Look, Dad, I did it.’”
Jackson admits he’s wrestled with his faith in God through the pain of his dad’s condition.
But now, it’s stronger than ever, he says.
And he hopes to use this season of life as part of his testimony.
“It’s definitely tough. You wonder why things happen like this,” said Jackson. “But I believe that everything, even the bad, happens for a reason.
“I’ve met so many people who I’ve been able to share this story with, and it’s helped them with their faith. Knowing that, that’s been a big thing to help me keep pushing through.”
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