Beating The Odds: Winona’s B Brasfield Survives Injury To Lead Tigers

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WINONA, Miss. (WCBI Sports) – He’s had to fight harder than the rest of his teammates just to be here. At one point, he didn’t know if he’d be playing sports again, or, more importantly, how much longer he’d be alive.

The Winona High School football team could be on the verge of winning its 2A division, but that wouldn’t be the only reason starting left tackle B Brasfield will be celebrating his senior year. This Tiger cherishes every moment in life.

Brasfield was hit it in the head by a baseball during a practice his sophomore year. It was simply an errant throw and didn’t seem serious to him and his mother. The next morning, however, he was rushed into surgery when doctors in Jackson learned he had suffered a subdural hematoma, bleeding near the brain.

“When I think back on it it still scares me because he told me that morning that I didn’t have very long until I would have been dead,” B Brasfield said.

B’s mother Rhonda said that day was nerve racking.

“(It was) scary, not knowing at first that it was that bad but then knowing that it could be been worse.” his mother said.

Doctors say Brasfield would have died soon after, if he hadn’t had the surgery.

“It still scares me to this day that I was that close,” B said.

He’s made a full recovery, playing baseball last spring a year after the injury. He’s starting on the offensive line on this year’s football team in his first season playing with the high school.

“He’s a great, great, great kid,” head football coach Joey Thompkins said. “He’s a leader by example.”

His courage has inspired his teammates and teachers who have noticed the change in his attitude.

“Before, he was this quiet guy,” teammate Zach Carter said. “After that injury, he started living every day like it was his last. You could really tell it.”

“It was very crazy because it just happened (recently). He recovered so soon,” teammate Teon Thomas said.

“B is the type of person, he’s going to succeed in whatever he tries,” school principal Charlie Parkerson said.

His mother said now it’s often difficult to watch him play sports.

“I still have apprehension,” his mother said. “But I know the lord is going to take care of him and I’m very proud.”

It’s an event that B and his family said they’ll never forget.

“I’ll always remember what it did to me and how grateful I am to play sports,” he said.

Brasfield is ranked sixth in grade point average in a class of around 100 students. He wants to end up at Mississippi State after junior college and major in wildlife biology.

He’s the WCBI Student Athlete of the Week. The Winona football team will play at division leader Calhoun City Friday at 7 p.m.