Sickles Hendrick out; O’Donoghue in

Posted Nov 19, 2009 by Katherine Smith

Updated Nov 19, 2009 at 10:48 AM

Sickles playoff excitement was tempered a bit on Wednesday when the team learned they would be without starting quarterback John Melvin Hendrick.

Hendrick had surgery to repair a wrist injury he sustained in the Gryphons regular-season finale game against Armwood last week. Surgeons repaired a dislocated growth plate and a radial fracture in his non-throwing hand, Sickles coach Pat O’Brien said.

“He’ll be in a cast for six weeks and then he’ll have to rehab it afterwards,” O’Brien said. “They wanted to make sure the growth plate was handled properly because he is still growing.”

Starting linebacker and the Gryphons leadind tackler Scott O’Donoghue will start in Hendrick’s place.

“He’ll be playing Superman,” O’Brien said. “We had him playing both ways against Wharton, so he has an idea of what it will be like.”

Jeff Wilton has also been taking snaps at practice this week and will be used if O’Donoghue needs to take a rest, O’Brien said. Hillsborough County’s leading rusher Cary White also could help out on the defensive side of the ball if needed.