JENKS — – It would be a cliché for anyone else, but Chris Carr realized that Friday night was his last football game – ever.

The Checotah running back suited up for the last time in playing for the East in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State game at Jenks High School’s Hunter-Dwelley Stadium.

An injury – the point of the football stabbing into his stomach – while being tackled during a scrimmage against Spiro in his sophomore year never totally healed. He had chances to play in college next year with schools including Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, Northeastern A&M and Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College showing interest.

But a monthly checkup in early May to the doctor brought the bad news. It felt like a ton of bricks for Carr.

“He told me that college football would not be a good idea,” the player affectionately called Tank said. “It was depressing because I knew I could’ve gone somewhere and played. I was thinking, ‘Is he saying that to me?’ It broke me down and I felt really bad.

“But I got to do what’s best for me. I don’t want to risk getting hurt again.”

That’s why playing in the All-State game was so important for Carr.

“I wanted to try to make this game memorable,” he said “I wanted to give it one last shot for my coach (Brandon Turley), my parents (Nanette Robertson and Bronko Carr) and my brothers (Eric and Tray Carr).”

Turley slapped Carr’s during the pregame introductions. He also knows what could’ve been for the All-Phoenix running back, who ran for 891 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

“He definitely had the ability to play college football, but this is a different circumstance for Tank,” Turley said. “I know he’s taken all of this in stride and he’s done it like everything else – with a smile on his face. He’s going to move on.”

The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder was one of area players in the All-State game. The others were linemen Ryan Lester of Muskogee, Austin Bradshaw of Hilldale and Ethan James of Gore along with Stigler wide receiver John Henry Parsons.

Bradshaw has signed with Bacone College, James plays for NSU in the and Lester tries to walk on at Oklahoma State.

Carr had a brief high school career, playing just two years. He’d still play, if given the chance.The desire remain strong.

“I just like the whole feeling of it and the adrenalin I got from it,” he said.

Carr, though, will have others cheering for him even though it won’t be under the lights.

“He’s a classy young man who is going to be successful in life,” Chris Risenhoover, the Stigler coach and calling the offensive plays in the All-State game, said.

The West beat the East 21-20 in the game.

Carr finished the game with four carries for two yards that included a four-yard gain in the first half and a three-yard loss in the second half.

Lester also kicked two extra points for the East, had a third attempt blocked and also played on the defensive line while handling all of the kickoff duties for the East. Parsons didn’t catch a pass, while Bradshaw and James played quite a bit on the offensive line.

Carr, though, will have others cheering for him even though he won’t be under the lights.

“He’s a classy young man who is going to be successful in life,” Chris Risenhoover, the Stigler coach and calling the offensive plays in the All-State game, said.