High school football Q&A with Franklin Regional’s Mike Evans

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 6:21 PM

The hole Mike Evans punched in his bedroom wall is a constant reminder.

It is a reminder of the aggravation he felt from unrelenting injuries, of the maturation process, of the test of patience and, ultimately, the euphoria that washed over him when he scored on one of the longest pass plays in Franklin Regional history.

He finally broke through.

Evans has been knocked down a lot more times than your average high school senior football player. He was broken his collarbone three times. He missed most of his junior season because of it. He has dislocated two ribs and tweaked his Achilles. But that’s minor.

When he was 12, he was playing catcher and took a foul tip to the chest. His heart stopped for two minutes, he said, and his diagnosis was heart failure.

“Scariest moment of my life,” Evans said. “From then on I can tell you I don’t take one day for granted.”

A slow descent into anger, quite out of character for the easy-going Evans but understandable because of the stop-and-start flow of his early years, blossomed into promise and progress. Evans keeps getting another chance and doesn’t intend to waste the next one.

Last week, it finally happened for the senior wide receiver when he caught a pass near his own 40-yard line and sprinted in stride down the sideline for a 93-yard touchdown as the Panthers edged Latrobe, 17-14.

The long bomb tied the score 14-14 before freshman Anthony DiFalco’s deciding field goal.

“He has worked really hard to get back,” Panthers coach Greg Botta said. “You can’t run those types of plays without the personnel, and with Mike, we have a fast kid with smarts and intelligence. Why waste a down when you have that kind of player?”

Botta said he thinks the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Evans could be a Division I player, potentially a Mid-American Conference prospect.

Also a cornerback, Evans has seven catches for 246 yards and three touchdowns. He scored twice in Week 1 against Plum.

You broke your collarbone twice last year?

Yes. I played the next week after (the first fracture), but I was in denial about it. I has having searing pain. I came back (Week 9) against Gateway and broke it again.

How did you handle the frustration with the injuries?

I turned it into proving myself. I had a different state of mind last year. Coach Botta kept reminding me that I could have a breakout year and to keep pushing. I don’t feel as demoralized now. I did break down emotionally, though. Things happen for a reason.

How did the 93-yard touchdown play unfold last week?

We were trips to one side, and I was backside. The safety shadowed over. I looked at (quarterback) Adam (Rudzinski), and we audibled to a go (route). The corner played off. I just felt so much relief when I caught the ball. It was a huge spark, and we needed it. I never felt that way before.

What do you remember from getting hit with the baseball?

I had the (chest protector) on, but I kind of turned because it was a slider. It knocked me down. My dad (Mike) came running out all upset and beat the crap out of my chest. By the grace of God I survived. They said I was one in a million. I had people stop me in the store and tell me how happy they are for me. They’d start crying.

What kind of advice has kept you upbeat?

Coach Botta said, “You’ll go through so much adversity, so many times you’ll want to be done. But you have to keep going.”

What pregame rituals do you follow?

My pastor (Tim Florian) and I pray together, then I pray with my mom (Christy), then I put my headphones on and listen to “Hells Bells.”

What was the last concert you went to?

I went to see Taylor Swift when I was 7. She’s the only nonrapper I like.

Best place to eat in Murrysville?

North Park Lounge.

Why is Franklin Regional so competitive and so good defensively every year?

It goes back to coach Botta. He is the toughest person I have met in my life. He molds people into linebackers. Football is getting soft. But we’re so blessed to have coach Botta; he’s one of the last guys who preaches toughness.

Who was the Franklin Regional player you most admired growing up?

Colin Jonov. I watched him play and always compared myself to him. He came out and talked to us, and I really learned from him.

Do past injuries affect the way you approach the game now?

Things happen for a reason. I never want to play tentatively. I play as hard as I can. If I get hurt, it’s football.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Franklin Regional