CV two-way player Jacot competes through pain

A big reason why Mead, Ferris and Central Valley are in the first round of the State 4A playoffs is because of two-way players.

Perhaps more than any recent season, two-way players have been vital to those three teams. The teams had plenty of talent going into the year; they just didn’t have as much depth as some seasons.

So you have to applaud the two-way standouts. Heck, at the 2A level and below, that’s how teams make a living and a deep run in the playoffs.

The two-way players in the GSL have been grinders this year. By not leaving the field as often as others, they double the opportunity for injury.

Central Valley senior Alex Jacot is a perfect example.

Jacot is a two-year starter at linebacker. He’s also started this year at running back. For a second year, he has led the Bears in tackles. He moved from strong-side linebacker to the middle this year.

Unbeknownst to him at the time, Jacot broke a small bone in his right foot late in the game against Rogers eight weeks ago. He noticed the pain afterward and had it X-rayed the following Tuesday, the week of the Bears’ rival game against University.

The doctor told Jacot he wouldn’t risk further injury by playing. It would be a pain tolerance issue.

He sat out practice the next day but returned Thursday, and he played a key role in the win over the Titans.

He wanted to practice Monday before his appointment with the doctor, but coach Rick Giampietri wouldn’t let him.

“I had to practically take his pads off,” Giampietri said.

Adding pain to existing pain, Jacot broke the pinky toe on the same foot in the third-to-last game of the regular season against North Central.

“I’ve had to buddy tape it to the toe next to it,” Jacot said.

He takes two or three ibuprofen before each game.

“During warm-ups I notice the pain, but once the game gets started, adrenaline sets in and I don’t notice it,” Jacot said.

The broken toe hurts more than the first fracture.

Giampietri can’t say enough about the quarterback of his defense.

“He has been a warrior for us,” Giampietri said. “After each game he comes to practice Monday ready to go. He just wants to play so bad. He’s a senior who has put in a lot of time. He’s been a good leader and inspiration.”

Jacot isn’t the fleetest of foot in the GSL. Knowing that, he dedicated himself in track last spring, doing the 100 and 200 meters and running a leg on the 400 relay.

“It definitely helped my speed,” he said.

Jacot went from a 4.85 seconds in the 40-yard dash to a 4.6 – not blazing, but not slow either.

He shares time at running back with junior Grayson Sykes, who also starts at linebacker. Jacot is the power runner and Sykes provides the yards on the perimeter.

“I basically run between the tackles,” Jacot said. “I enjoy it. I don’t like to juke a lot. If there’s a guy in my way, I just want to run him over.”

CV got a measure of revenge last week when the Bears shut out Chiawana 24-0 in a play-in game, eliminating the team that had eliminated the Bears the year before.

The Bears will try to exact more revenge Friday in the first round of the playoffs against Ferris. CV led the Saxons 10-7 at halftime in early October, but the Bears fell 28-10.

“We’re not content with being in the first round of the state playoffs,” Jacot said. “We want to make it to the state championship game.”

Spoken like a leader.