Kwazsi Gaddis broke down and cried.
The tears came after his pick-six and four ensuing rushing touchdowns. They came after he received an MVP plaque for his performance. They came after he and his Indian River teammates, whose seasons ended on the Carrier Dome turf two years in a row, celebrated on the block “S” at midfield.
The stage, which hadn’t been too big for Gaddis through all of that, had finally hit him.
“We work so hard,” Gaddis said, explaining the tears. “Those hot weather conditions, those cold weather conditions, fighting through it. Telling yourself, one day this is gonna pay off.