'I had to learn how to walk again': North Quincy football captain back after spinal injury

QUINCY — As his teammates pushed their limits in the weight room this summer, Cameron Sampson's offseason training began by cautiously making his way up and down the stairs at home.

One step after another eventually evolved into a slow trot around his neighborhood, then a jog at the beach.

All of it culminated in a long-shot bet that the North Quincy High football captain would one day run routes again.

A spinal injury suffered last year while making a gang tackle during an Oct. 20, 2023 game against Scituate put Sampson's ability to walk again in serious question. He was treated at Boston Children's Hospital and was subjected to watch the Raiders' win over city rival Quincy on Thanksgiving , as well as his junior lacrosse season, on the sidelines.

Sampson, the second-oldest brother in a family of football fanatics, was cleared on Aug. 9 to return to action, exactly one week before the start of training camp.

“(The first day) was surreal," Sampson said. "I never thought I’d be in a helmet and shoulder pads again.”

“It’s been a long road," head coach Ryan Craig said. "He’s been through a lot. I’ve watched the whole thing and his journey has been incredible. He never lost sight that he wanted to get back on the football field. That was his goal: not to walk, not to be OK, that he’s going to get back on the football field. That was his tunnel vision.”

The injury stunted a season of highs for Sampson, who, along his brother Nate and classmate Marques Rodriques-Smith, were the top receiving targets for standout quarterback Mikey Galligan. Cameron Sampson's best game came in the early in the campaign against Oliver Ames (3 receptions for 159 yards and 1 TD) and he hauled in a touchdown against Pembroke on Oct. 13, the game before the injury.

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“It was a long stressful process from the night of the injury all the way up until now," Sampson said. "I had to learn how to walk again, learn how to run. It went from me never being able to walk again to never playing football again. Now, I’m fully cleared to play. I’m glad to be back.”

“I just knew the last play of my career couldn’t be laying down on the field," he said. "I knew I had to get back and finish on a good note.”

Sampson, while on crutches during the offseason, would watch his younger brothers Ryan, Liam, Keegan and Corey play football in between physical therapy and routinely stopping by team workouts. His presence around the team made Craig's decision to appoint him a captain "a no-brainer," the coach said.

“The kid has been on a rollercoaster since that day (Oct. 20)," Craig said. "He’s handled it unbelievably.”

“We love Cam," said Galligan. "He’s a great player and a great kid. We’re very excited to have him back. He’s himself so far.”

2023 rewind

The Raiders had an up-and-down 2023 season against stiff competition in the Patriot League Fisher Division and non-league parts of the schedule. North Quincy finished with a 5-6 record with two win, three loss final stretch against Super Bowl-bound Scituate (42-28 loss) and Hanover (42-13 loss), Barnstable (42-7 loss), Plymouth North (42-21 win) and Quincy (43-20 win). Galligan, meanwhile, set program records for most career TDs (27) and most TDs in a single season (21).

Three names to know

Mikey Galligan, senior QB: A Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic first-teamer, Galligan threw for 1,904 yards and 21 TDs (a single-season record) last season, while totaling for over 300 yards and 7 TDs in the run game. The senior said he put on 20 pounds in the offseason to bulk up for his final season.

Marques Rodrigues-Smith, senior WR/CB: This three-year starter is a difference-maker on both sides of the ball.

Brady Craig, junior RB/LB: One of the team's top non-seniors, Craig saw some varsity time as a sophomore last fall and will reinforce the middle of the Raiders' defense.

They said it

Craig on the offense: “Mike Galligan is arguably the best quarterback on the South Shore. I’d say that to anybody. The kid can play. And we’ve got some guys on the outside who can go after the football and get it.”

Rodrigues-Smith on Galligan: “He’s great. He’s everything we’ve needed so far. He’s done his job. We expect him to bring us up as a leader, as a captain.”

Galligan on the team's outlook: “We’re younger, but we’re just as talented as the guys last year.”

North Quincy football 2024 schedule

Friday, Sept. 6 – vs. Cambridge Rindge & Latin, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 14 – vs. Oliver Ames, 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 20 – at Braintree, 6 p.m.

BYE WEEK

Friday, Oct. 4 – at Cohasset, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 11 – vs. Plymouth South, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 18 – vs. Pembroke, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 24 – at Scituate, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 1 – at Hanover, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 28 – at Quincy, 10 a.m.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 'I had to learn how to walk again': North Quincy football captain back after spinal injury