Riverton Parke to remember fallen player

For the first time in program history, Riverton Parke will retire a football player's jersey number.

That player, Chase Bennett, was an integral part of the Riverton Parke football culture, according to head coach Brad Sanders. 

Bennett passed away earlier this year at the age of 17, succumbing to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. 

The jersey retirement ceremony will be held before the Panthers play Fountain Central Friday night. 

"The first thing I think of when I think of Chase was his heart and determination. Chase was a slow grower and always undersized, but you would never know it in how he approached things. He swung a baseball bat with everything he had, was a great wrestler, and was fearless on the football field. He was all heart," Sanders told The Parke County Post.

Sanders said he got to know Bennett very well as he was good friends with Collett Sanders, who is the youngest coach of Sanders. 

"Chase had spent the night at our house a few times growing up and he was always a happy, go lucky kid. He loved to fish and hunt, and was your typical boy. He was a great friend, which is a rare quality. I feel like he truly treated people the way he wanted to be treated," Sanders said. 

The veteran coach admitted Bennett's determination and unwavering resolve paid off last season, as he overcame adversity and earned the middle linebacker position. 

The decision drew skepticism from several on his own staff, but Sanders knew what he saw. 

"I felt what he lacked in size he would make up for in heart and determination, and he did. He had an outstanding season for us. This past winter, he was really coming into his own. He was finally growing and getting stronger. God had other plans," Sanders said. 

When his team takes the field Friday, looking to improve to 3-0, Sanders will again spend a few minutes thinking about Bennett and smile.

"I will always remember Chase for his heart and the kind of friend he was. Even when others didn't treat him as well as they should have, he continued to smile and continued to treat people the way he wanted to be treated. I think we all need to try and be a little more like Chase," Sanders said.