CAC’s Miller: ‘Never quit fighting’

by Mark Oliver

After suffering a season-ending injury during the first game of his final season, Central Arkansas Christian senior Hugh Miller has found a new way to lead the team he calls his family.

“In the first game of the season this year, I fractured my jaw in two places after taking a knee to the face,” Miller said. “I didn’t know how bad it was at the time, so I played the rest of the game, but when I got an x-ray the next day, the doctors told me that the risk of reinjury was too high for me to suit up again.”

It was the kind of news that no senior wanted to hear — his high school football career was over — but for Miller, a closed door challenged him to become a better leader.

“Even though I can’t be out there on the field with my team, just being there — being a presence — can help them as a team,” Miller said. “As a senior, you carry a lot of leadership responsibility already. The younger players look up to your experience, and it’s your job to teach them and prepare them for the challenges they’ll face. My job now is to encourage my teammates, support them every single day at practice and during games and show them that they mean just as much to me as I do to them.”

Miller was selected to this year’s 501 Football Team — 28 players representing all 11 counties of the 501. The team, sponsored by Conway Ortho and Sports Medicine Center, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank, boasts the best the 501 has to offer both on and off the field. Miller was nominated by his head coach, Tommy Shoemaker.

“Hugh is a leader for our team,” Shoemaker wrote in his nomination. “He is a person of great character and is someone you can depend on to leads others.

He is kind and respectful to others, respectful to his opponents and is a young man that anyone would love to have as a son.”

This week, the Mustangs (1-2) prepare for a high-stakes matchup against Riverview.

“Right now, our guys are pumped up,” Miller said. “Three games in, we already have a win in the books, which matches our win total from last year. Getting a win Friday and evening our record at 2-2 makes us better than last year and helps establish ourselves as a team to be reckoned with this year. Our guys are working hard to get this win over Riverview.”

Central Arkansas Christian High School’s Hugh Miller is a member of this year’s 501 Football Team, sponsored by Conway Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Center, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank. (Mike Kemp photo)

Though his football career is over, Miller says his favorite football memories are those he has made with his teammates.

“Our summer workouts and extreme conditioning this past offseason helped us grow closer as brothers and as a family,” Miller said. “That’s what I’ll love and miss most about the game.”

Off the field, Miller plays baseball and serves as Student Council Vice President at CAC.

“I love being an outlet between the teachers and student body,” Miller said. “I love distributing ideas regarding homecoming and other activities. I love being a leader that the younger kids can look up to, not just in athletics, but academically, as well.”

After high school, Miller plans to pursue a degree in science.

“I’m focusing on my academics right now so that I can continue on to college,” Miller said. “I’d like to do something with either physics or engineering. I’m a big nerd, and science really interests me.”

In his free time, the senior pursues another passion — making music with friends.

“I absolutely love playing music,” Miller said. “It has always been a great outlet for stress and getting other things out of focus. My father has always been musically inclined, and he got my brother and I interested in playing the drums. I’ve been playing since I was 9 years old. Over the past couple of years, I’ve gotten together with a couple of buddies from school and started a band. We’re going to play a couple of gigs soon.”

Miller hopes his story inspires those who may be struggling from personal challenges in their lives.

“The biggest thing you can do is continue working to better yourself as a person,” Miller said. “I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. You may not understand why something bad happens, but you can’t feel sorry for yourself. Your challenges build character and make you stronger. No matter what happens to me in life, I’m someone who never quits fighting.”

Central Arkansas Christian plays at Riverview 7 p.m. Friday.

Mark Oliver
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