Panther Football's Chayse Brown Out For The Season

Mehlville junior Chayse Brown could only stand on the sidelines and watch as his Panthers  Friday night in the traditional rivalry game.

At that point, there was hope that the standout running back could play again this season. He had taken an MRI on his knee earlier that day but the results were not in.

The results are now in and the news is not good for Brown and the Panthers.

"He is out for the year," Mehlville coach Eric Meyer said. 

Brown was injured in .

"It was an inside power play and you really couldn't see it on film," Meyer said of the injury. "He was pulled down and there was a pile. That is often how someone gets hurt."

It's a tough break first and foremost for Brown.

"He loves football," Meyer said. "I know he is trying to be a team player, but I know he is upset and his family is upset. Those first couple of weeks after you learn you are lost for the season are really hard."

Brown showed his big-play potential as a sophomore when he rushed for 483 yards and averaged more than 5 yards a carry. He led the team with eight touchdowns.

And he had gotten off to a great start in 2011 before the unfortunate injury.

Brown rushed for 110 yards on 12 carries in  in the season opener and followed that with a huge game, 236 yards on 24 carries (a 9.8 average) and .

He rushed for a touchdown early in the Lafayette game.

Brown, who also played in the secondary and on special teams, finished the season with an 8-yard per carry average on his 45 rushes.

"Chayse is just an explosive player," Meyer said. "We have other kids who are explosive but Chayse is going to be hard to replace. We just have to move on."

The Panthers host Fox Friday night with Brown again having to be a cheerleader instead of a feature back.