Lynch can’t play, but will be part of new Marple-Penncrest tradition

NEWTOWN SQUARE — Tyler Lynch can say he gave everything he had to the Marple Newtown football program.

The senior wide receiver and defensive back will not be in full uniform Wednesday night when the Tigers travel to Central League rival Penncrest for an inaugural Thanksgiving eve game.

Lynch will be pacing the visitor’s sideline on crutches, cheering his teammates and hoping for victory. His football season had ended in October in a game against Ridley.

“I tore my ACL, meniscus and sprained my MCL. I also had some complications during surgery,” Lynch said. “I’ve been non-weight bearing for 4½ weeks now.”

On Tuesday, Lynch was cleared “about 50 percent,” meaning he could begin to use crutches and ditch the wheelchair he’d been glued to since the injury.

Unfortunately, season-ending injuries are all too common for Lynch.

“In my first lacrosse game last season, I broke my hand and missed the whole year,” he said. “Now I’ll miss my entire lacrosse season again.”

The last eight or ninth months have been a physical and mental challenge for Lynch, but he has come to grips with his situation and is excited to watch his teammates play one final game to cap the 2019 campaign.

Lynch expects to join fellow co-captains Ryan Lain (junior lineman), Robbie Reilly (senior linebacker) and Jelani Estes (senior wide receiver/defensive back) at the 50-yard line of Louis Scott Field for the pre-game coin toss.

“It *****, it’s really tough to swallow, but all the tears that I have for football have already been shed,” Lynch said. “I just really want to be there for the seniors (Wednesday) night, and definitely to be there for our young guys and encouraging them. I’ve gotten used to it and I’ve been making the best of a tough situation.”

Prior to being sidelined for the season, Lynch was one of the Tigers’ top performers on offense and defense. He posted 16 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s going to be surreal, knowing it’s our last time, especially for myself and some others who have no intent to play college football,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be emotional. … But I just want to go out there and have as much fun as possible, one last time.”

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Marple Newtown senior Tyler Lynch, pictured here catching a touchdown pass against Conestoga earlier this season, suffered a season-ending knee injury in a game against Ridley in October