The play is clear in Rich Murphy’s mind. It was a sweep to the left. He remembers following it, but not who hit him or how. He does recall hearing the pop in his knee and not needing a trainer to tell him what was wrong.

“As soon as it happened, I knew what it was. I knew that’s it,” Murphy said.

“It” was a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the second Murphy had suffered in as many years. It finished a promising 2011 season just three games in and sent the Porters Chapel Academy linebacker toward another long recovery.

Months of rehab and hard work will pay off Friday night. Murphy, wearing braces and surgical scars on both knees, will start at middle linebacker for PCA in its season opener at Union Christian.