Northside High School Student Working Towards Comeback this Football Season

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Summers in Georgia mean high school football players are hard at work.

Two-a-days, film sessions, and wind sprints.

Monday, the Northside Eagles are in the weight room and there is one star who trains a little differently.

JaQue Billingsley is a nose guard and rising senior at Northside and lost his leg his freshman year.

While going through drills on the wrestling team, his sparring partner tried a common move that had an unfortunate result.

“My leg got stuck under his and he ended up falling on me and i ended up severing my artery,” Billingsey said.

Doctors had to amputate JaQue’s lower leg. He was worried he’ll never play sports again.

“They were telling me that i was about to catch gangrene and then that’s when i was just like amputate the leg,” Billingsey said.

His trainer, Vonnie Hitchcock has been next to him on his road to recovery.

“For an amputee, it’s like 30, 40 percent more effort just to do every day things,” Hitchcock said.

She says JaQue never gives up on his rehab.

“He’s got a great attitude, his attitude throughout this entire unfortunate incident has been amazing,” Hitchcock said.

In May, JaQue competed in the Dixie Games in Atlanta. He set records in both of his weight lifting events, qualifying for the US Paralympics nationals in San Antonio.

To get there, he and his family need help with travel costs.

JaQue says in the mean time, he’s ready to bring a state championship back to Warner Robins.

Go to www.gofundme.com/JaQue to donate to help JaQue.