By Rich Fisher, Packet Media Group
EWING – Prior to the Sunshine Football Classic, Mackenzie Cannon promised he was going to play harder than he ever had in his life, despite the fact it was only an All-Star game.
Cannon not only lived up to his promise, he was rewarded for it.
Hightstown High’s lone representative in the game did his school proud, recording six solo tackles and walking away with the East squad’s Lineman of the Game in the July 1 charity event at The College of New Jersey.
“It was great,” Cannon said of the award. “It was so awesome especially on a night like that, going out in what may be my last game – I hope it’s not my last though – and getting an outstanding award like that in a game playing with All-Stars is just unbelievable.”
The fact that the East was on the short end of a 21-0 score did not faze Cannon. This was more a case of being part of the game than anything else.
“I would have loved to win and all, but I went out and played my best game,” he said. “It’s easier on defense to celebrate individual pride than it is on the offensive side.
“If I was an offensive lineman, I would have been like ‘Aww we didn’t score.’ But on defense, if I make a tackle it stops there. I think it was really a fun game; probably the most fun game I’ve ever played. I really enjoyed myself.”
What made Cannon proudest of his award is that it was achieved while playing against the best competition he had seen throughout his high school career.
“It was really competitive going against good guys,” he said. “The linemen on the West are just a whole bunch of all stars. No matter where you line up, there is a good player across from you.
“I enjoy that, as opposed to a regular high school game. You can’t say ‘The West side is kind of weak on the left side, so line up over there and we can take advantage.’ There’s none of that. You line up and you go against a good player no matter where you are at.”
Cannon felt “I had a pretty decent game” but added that “I didn’t think I played that well to get Lineman of the Game.”
“I was half surprised, half happy. It’s awesome to get an award like that, especially on a night when you’re out there representing kids that have cancer. I was just out there playing as hard as I could to give the money’s worth to people who came out and paid for such a great cause to support those kids (who are helped by the Sunshine Foundation).
Cannon compared the experience to opening night of his senior year when the Rams played at West Windsor-Plainsboro South and came away with a victory.
“It just about matched the adrenaline I had going into that game,” he said. “Half of me was excited, half of me was jittery. It was almost surreal. I couldn’t believe I was on a college field in front of thousands of people.”
It was an experience Cannon never wanted to end. Just prior to the completion of the first half he made a tackle that pumped him up to keep playing. Unfortunately, the halftime whistle blew moments later.
“I wished it was one of those two-minute halftimes where we sat on the sidelines and talked,” Cannon said with a laugh. “I was ready to keep playing. I didn’t want to sit in the lockerroom, I wanted to play. Once I get in the zone that’s it. I couldn’t stop moving around in the lockerroom.”
Cannon channeled that energy in a positive way after intermission and eventually edged out Nottingham’s Anthony Cordero for Lineman of the Game.
When it was over, the entire scenario had Mackenzie thinking about his future. He is attending Mercer County Community College next year but now has renewed interest in football beyond high school.
“The environment was crazy,” he said. “There were so many people, we were under the lights. The announcer was loud. It kind of fueled me to play college football.
“A lot of the guys I was going against are going to play in college and I did all right against them. I’m going to still work out with guys playing football. Even though I’m at Mercer, my heart is still gonna be with football.”
That was apparent after he played his heart out in the Sunshine Classic.
