It was the first play from scrimmage and 6-2, 195-pound athlete Landon Stych took the snap from center out of the shotgun in the Saints’ Homecoming game on Sept. 19 against Gilbert. He burst through the hole his linemen provided on the left side and took off running for a 69-yard gain.
Not only was it a great way to start off the game, which would become a big victory for Notre Dame Prep, but it was the start of Week 4 of his senior year. It’s a week that Stych didn’t make it to just one year prior.
Stych played Freshman and JV football for the Saints in his first two years of high school, even getting the call up to varsity for a few games in his sophomore season in 2023. But it was his junior year where he first started to make waves on Friday nights. Stych had 18 tackles in his first two games and was on his way to another strong performance the next game, before some trouble was encountered.
”I was running to defend a punt, but ended up planting and I felt a weird pop in my knee,” Stych said in an e-mail interview. “I finished the play, but I knew something popped and it wasn’t feeling right.”
It was in the third quarter of the game against Millennium on a Thursday night in Week 3. He ended up finishing the game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It wasn’t until he woke up on Friday morning that he realized how bad it was. There was swelling around the knee.
When Stych went to the doctor, it was diagnosed as a full tear in the ACL and a partial tear of the meniscus. The meniscus was an injury to the cartilage pads that cushion the knee joint. An ACL tear normally has an extensive recovery time ranging from six to 12 months. His junior season, a critical time for getting film for colleges, was over.
Stych has played football since he was in second grade and has always played on both sides of the ball. Being behind center wasn’t new to him because Stych played quarterback on both Freshman and JV. He’s used to being an all-around athlete, but for the fall of 2024, his role was to stay around the team and remain involved. And of course, the rehab.
Following surgery, his rehabilitation involved different types of leg exercises and movements.
”The first few months were more movements and getting the leg strengthened,” Stych said. “The last few months were heavy lifting and getting the leg back and running. A big part of this rehab was also my conditioning. We took a lot of time to get me back and conditioned.”
One of the other supporting influences in Stych’s life is with his family, and in particular, with his father. Having a strong role model helped with the long road to get back.
”My dad played D-I baseball, so everything I do, I try to be like him,” Stych said. “And he pushed me to be more like him and be the athlete he was.”
After he was cleared, it was time to work with just himself and the hot Arizona sun.
Come August, Stych was suited up and on the varsity team once again. In the season opener against Yuma Catholic (a 28-14 win), he produced on both sides of the ball. A pair of rushing touchdowns and five catches for 63 yards on offense. On the defensive side, the outside linebacker had nine tackles and a pass breakup. He was back!
”Being back on the field for the first time was a weird feeling, but I also felt a bit of relief,” Stych said. “Seeing my stats and playing the way I did in my first game, I knew I was back. I knew I was going to come back better than ever and I proved that in Week 1 and I’ve proven that every week since.”
At one point in his high school career, Stych was a three-sport athlete. However, he dropped basketball after his sophomore season and took baseball and football to a more serious level.
Due to the knee injury, he wasn’t able to play baseball in his junior year, but was a centerfielder batting from the left side of the plate.
For football, Stych visited San Diego State in March during their spring practices. He also has unofficial visits planned in October for game days at Idaho and Montana.
Notre Dame begins 5A Northeast Region play this Friday at Horizon with a 2-3 record. The Saints have had a tough slate seeing Sunnyslope, Desert Edge, and Campo Verde (combined record 12-3). Still to come after 5-0 Horizon is Cactus Shadows, Arizona College Prep, and Desert Mountain. They may be challenges, but nothing compared to what Stych has already gone through.
Football can be a dangerous game and at any moment, the human body may not respond the way it usually does. Stych gives advice for those that have to sit out and take care of injuries.
”I would say to stay positive and surround yourself with people who truly care for you,” Stych said. “It is easy to get in a dark spot, especially right after surgery when you have nothing going on. But find yourself digging deeper with God and the ones who care and check up on you.”
Reach Chris Eaton at gridironarizona@yahoo.com or DM at @gridironarizona with story ideas.
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