Mount Dora High School sophomore Chase Bryant is in the middle of a breakout defensive season for the Hurricanes. Chase is posting numbers that have made him one of Mount Dora’s and Lake County’s most disruptive forces while carrying a personal story that began with a life-threatening diagnosis at age 3.

His path to the football field started far from any practice field. In April 2015, at age 3, Chase was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. He spent the next two years undergoing chemotherapy treatments, sometimes as frequently as four times a week, along with about 12 lumbar punctures. The regimen was demanding for the entire family. One parent was unable to work full time because of the constant medical schedule.

“It was a very trying time for us as a family,” says his father Riley Bryant, “but the Lord always provided and kept His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.”

Battle after battle, week after week, treatment after treatment, Chase’s determination paid off when he went into remission on Aug. 11, 2017 on his second day of kindergarten at age 5. Since that day, Chase has remained in remission for nine years, marking the anniversary each August.

Then at the age of 8, Chase found a new love, the game of football, a game his father would introduce him to. Hearing people talk about how good his dad had been only fueled his desire to surpass him. “I always wanted to be better than him after people always said how good he was,” Chase says.

This season’s success carries an added layer of motivation. Chase points to his great-grandmother as a driving force. “The success to my breakout season is probably my great grandmother,” he says. “After she passed away I have wanted to be great for her.”

And great he has been. Chase has recorded 18 tackles, eight of them for loss. He leads Mount Dora with six sacks, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. The physical defensive end has become a constant presence in opposing backfields, using strength, effort and consistency to create negative plays.

“I love the physicality of it and the hard work you have to put in to be great,” Chase says.

While the sacks and the moments on the field have been special, his favorite moments come away from the thrill of Friday night lights. “My favorite moments have been the late night practices with my team working hard with my teammates,” he says. Those sessions reinforce the daily commitment required to improve.

Chase lists his role models as God, his father, his mother and coach Jacob Laub. The most important lesson he has taken from football is “Staying consistent and always keeping your head up.”

When he’s not lacing up his cleats, Chase stays involved in multiple ways. Over the summer he helped coach a youth football team. He is also part of the AVID program at Mount Dora. In addition to football, he competes in baseball and shot put, and in his free time he plays golf. Chase hopes to continue his football career in college and plans to study industrial engineering.

Playing at Mount Dora High has been a positive experience for him. “Playing at Mount Dora High School is great,” Chase says. “I love the dedication all my coaches give to the program, the environment, the supporters, and my principal Mr. Bracewell who has been supporting me since I first got here.”

Being a defensive standout, Chase looks up to many NFL players. But his favorite professional player happens to be Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. “Just seeing his work ethic and stuff he’s able to do is amazing,” Chase says.

No matter the hardships he’s gone through in life, the hard practice sessions or the loss of loved ones, Chase always puts his faith in Him. “Keep your faith in God and always work hard with everything you do,” he says.

Nine years after going into remission, Chase isn’t just living, he’s thriving. Using the discipline and resilience he forged during his childhood battle with cancer, he’s become one of the area’s top breakout stars this season. For Chase, he’s forming his own path on his terms, one tackle for loss and one sack at a time.