CHARLO - Junior Stephen Delaney was looking forward to a starting spot on the Charlo Vikings football team this season.

"We were expecting a breakout year from him," Charlo head coach Mike Krahn said.

Delaney had a great camp when the team traveled to Montana Tech during the summer, and along with playing at tight end he was also making an impact defensively. In a scrimmage against a team from Washington, Krahn said he saw one particular tackle that caused him to look on in awe.

"I thought ‘wow, that was a great tackle' and I looked around and expected to see Chico and it was Stephen," Krahn said.

However, destiny changed for Delaney after he made a catch in practice before the season and felt some pain and soreness in his lower back. The team trainer suggested x-rays, and after getting checked out it was determined that Delaney had a hairline fracture in one of his vertebras.

His season was over before it started. The doctor suggested that Delaney work on strengthening his core muscles as his body healed from the fracture, and he should hopefully be ready for basketball season. There would be no hitting or tackling on defense for the 6'0", 160-pound teenager.

Krahn said that kids sometimes drift away from the team when they have a season-ending injury. Not Delaney.

"I'm allowed to run, so I dress in shorts in every practice," Delaney said. "I'll do all the warm-ups and conditioning drills."

Delaney has remained a part of the team and has been a big help to the team with his presence.

"He's still out there and learning," Krahn said. "If he could physically play, he could jump in there and do it now."

He's also become a valuable resource on the sidelines. Another coach, if you will. The Charlo Vikings spend their lunch periods at school watching film for the next game and it's something Delaney has taken to heart.

"He's really taken on a coaches role," Krahn said.

Delaney studies the packages and various plays and will inform his teammates of what he sees the other team doing out on the field.

"It's kind of fun to watch the game and see what's happening and know what is exactly going on," he said. "We got a great defense, they're very smart. All the players are smart. We put lots of hours into study, even the scout team. We need everybody to know what they're doing out there."

Krahn said that it's nice to have that extra set of eyes out there and said Delaney showed a lot of character sticking with the team.

Along with his sideline coaching, he also makes sure that the players stay behind the proper lines to prevent a penalty.

"Sometimes he has to tell the coaches to get back," Krahn said.

Delaney should be able to suit up for basketball this year, as he's focused on core lifting and rehab. He's doing the right things and it should pay off in the future.

"The prognosis was positive as long as he takes care of it," Krahn said.

Hopefully next year, Delaney won't be such a big help on the sidelines because he'll be out on the field.

"He won't miss a beat," Krahn said.