Wyoming running back C.J. Hester's cousin Simeon "Tino" Whittle was paralyzed during his Dohn Community School football game against Cincinnati Country Day School Sept. 3. He broke a bone in his neck that split his spinal cord while making a tackle.
Hester called Whittle and asked what he could do for him.
"Wear my number and ball out," Whittle told him.
Hester's response: "'Most definitely. I'll do that for you.' I said, 'You're with me tonight.'"
Hester did exactly that Friday during Wyoming's 40-9 win over Mariemont in a matchup of the Cincinnati Hills League's top two teams.
Even though he had a new jersey number — switching from 33 to 23 — fans could still tell it was Hester. Looking like his usual self, Hester ran the ball 33 times for 239 yards and three touchdowns as Wyoming (8-0, 5-0 Cincinnati Hills League) kept its unbeaten season intact.
Hester has no plans to change his number back to 33.
"I'm gonna be wearing this number for the rest of the season," he said.
Hester was dealing with stacked boxes all game, something Wyoming is familiar with by now as teams try to slow down the star running back, who recorded his sixth game with more than 200 yards on the ground this season.
The Cowboys racked up 427 yards of total offense overall. The Cowboys faced stacked boxes all game as the Warriors' defense didn't leave any safeties high. It's something they're used to, as teams consistently sell out to stop the run against them.
"Every single week, whoever we play, that's their biggest game of the year. We know that," Wyoming coach Aaron Hancock said. "The target is on our back. We like to flip it around put it on our chest and understand that we want everyone's best."
Mariemont (6-2, 3-2 CHL) did give Wyoming its best early on. The Warriors battled their way to a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, corralling Wyoming and forcing the visitors to punt on their first two drives. Warriors quarterback Charlie Tully then found Timmy Stewart for 22 yards after rolling left and finding a throwing lane. Mariemont settled for a field goal after that drive stalled.
