By Mark Ambrogi
Chris Perkins couldn’t understand why he was getting passed on the track by kids he had always beaten.
“I’d come off the blocks hard and then I had nothing left,” Perkins said. “My dad said, ‘What’s going on? You seemed like you’ve given up on track.’ I said, ‘No, I’m trying.’”
Around that time, his parents took him to family doctor for his annual physical. After running tests his blood sugar registered at dangerous high level of 926.
“They said a lot of people don’t make it when they’re over 900,” Perkins said. “I keep that in mind. I continue to keep a smile on my face and work hard.”
His father, also named Chris, said the doctors said at the time they had never seen anyone walk into an emergency room with glucose that high.
“Normally you are in diabetic coma like that,” he said.
At 15, Perkins had just learned he had Type 1 diabetes, later than most youth.
It was a shock to Perkins, who had started at running back for Carmel High School as a freshman, a rare occurrence in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference. Perkins was hospitalized for two days to get his glucose back to normal.
“By the grace of God, he was able to walk out of the hospital and try to get his body back in shape,” the elder Perkins said.
Perkins learned to deal with his diabetes during his sophomore season, checking his blood sugar at halftime. He has never missed a game or practice because of the diabetes. But he did suffer a high ankle sprain as a junior that slowed him down and he admitted he might have to put a little much weight in attempt to get stronger.
This season Perkins has put it all together to lead Class 6A No. 1 Carmel to a 13-0 record entering Class 6A state championship game against No. 4 Ben Davis (11-2) at 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Perkins has rushed for 1,061 yards on 157 carries (6.8 average), including 13 touchdowns. He also has a touchdown reception.
’To my knowledge Chris is the first four-year starter that I can find in the last 30 years,” Greyhounds coach Kevin Wright said. “He’s had a breakout season. He’s running as well as he has ever seen him run. He’s really put it together. It’s been great to see him overcome a lot (with the diabetes and injuries). He’s one of the reasons we’re playing (in the final).”
Perkins credits his diet and being healthy all season for his success.
“The offensive linemen are doing an excellent job,” Perkins said. “This is the biggest line we’ve had since my freshman year so that helps out a lot, too.”
The diabetes has not really been an issue for Perkins once he adapted.
“They told me if you stay on top of it, everything should be fine so I stayed on top of it,” said Perkins, who checks his blood sugar at halftime during games. “If it’s got too high I make sure I do the steps I need to take. I have great trainers to help me.”
A bigger problem for Perkins was suffering a high ankle sprain late last season, slowing him down for the playoffs. He finished with 720 yards on 136 carries for the Greyhounds, who lost to Warren Central in the 6A state final. As a freshman, a broken fibula in the second game of the sectional kept Perkins for playing in Carmel’s 5A state title romp over Penn.
Perkins is also faster this season. He cut his 40-yard dash from a 4.58 seconds to 4.5 flat in the off-season.
“Last year I was heavier,” Perkins said. “I trimmed down a little. I weigh 198 but it’s more lean muscle than it was the last couple of years.”
The elder Perkins said his son doing hot yoga (yoga in sauna-like conditions) over the summer helped his flexibility.
Colleges are noticing. Perkins has received offers from Football Championship Subdivision schools Southern Illinois and Indiana State. Football Bowl Subdivision schools Northern Illinois, Cincinnati and Western Kentucky are showing a lot of interest.
