Scotts Hill players give back

Psalm 71:9 in the Old Testament of the Bible says, “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.”

That’s a verse that’s important to the staff at Briarwood Nursing Home in Lexington, and it’s also a big reason a group of football players from Scotts Hill visited residents at the facility Tuesday, July 19.

“It was 7-19 Day, which stands for Psalms 71:9, and that’s kind of the main verse for the place,” said Scotts Hill linebacker Drake Thompson, whose mother Donna works at Briarwood. “So they had a few events planned for the day, and my mom called [Scotts Hill head coach Michael Stroup] to see if we could come out and do something.”

Stroup did motivate about a half dozen of the guys to come out, but it didn’t take much.

“He kind of pushed us, but he didn’t have to push us that hard,” said running back Kobe Rogers.

The team typically tries to do a few community service projects throughout the year, and this was a chance to do just that.

“We went up there and spent some time with the people there and gave them ice cream,” said receiver Cole Rogers.

There was one resident in particular they went to see. Bobby Jack Bowman is a resident at the facility who played at Lexington in the early 1950s. He then went on to play at Ole Miss on the offensive line.

“Everybody had football jerseys on, and he had no idea we were there for him,” said Austin Branham, who is an offensive lineman for Scotts Hill. “We handed him a present, and it brought him to tears. It was very inspiring to see that.”

The gift the Lions gave him was an Ole Miss jersey with his No. 77 on it.

“We had fun talking to him,” said Cody Carter, who will be the team’s quarterback this year. “He talked to us about when he played and about how he played against Scotts Hill in basketball and that was all he knew about us because that’s all Scotts Hill had back then.”

Receiver Evan Russell said he was glad to be able to do something for someone else.

“It’s good to be able to give back to the community and do something for somebody else representing our school and our team,” Russell said. “Our community does so much to support us, and a lot of people in Lexington do too. We don’t mind giving a little back.”

Scotts Hill's Russell headed to UT

Thompson said they enjoyed interacting with the residents, particularly an outgoing couple who enjoyed talking to them and another lady who admitted she liked younger men.

“I go up there some since my mom works there, and I always have fun getting to know the people there,” Thompson said. “They’re good people there.”

Brandon Shields, 425-9751