Saint Francis quarterback Aaron Knapp fends off cancer, preps for big junior season

It's two days before Halloween and the Saint Francis High of Mountain View football team faces a third-and-eight on the Bellarmine 40-yard-line. The Lancers’ “Rage Cage” throng of rooters roars.

Saint Francis quarterback Aaron Knapp plants his foot, absorbs a big hit as he delivers a high-arching pass toward the end zone to a well-covered Andrew Adkison, who snares the ball with one hand while sprawling to the ground for a 35-yard gain.

Knapp, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound sophomore, completed 12 of 14 passes that night for 208 yards and a touchdown in the 31-12 victory against the rival Bells. It was one of three victories he led Saint Francis to in relief of injured All-West Catholic Athletic League standout Matt Dougherty.

That’s not a huge sample size, but enough to think Knapp is the future of Saint Francis football. But first he had to deal with the present — an ominous task for the San Jose resident.

TOUGHEST OPPONENT

Far more fearsome than the De La Salle Spartans or Serra Padres or anyone else on Saint Francis’ schedule is the opponent Knapp faced off the field.

“In November of my freshman year I noticed a bump on my neck,” Knapp said. “I didn’t think that much of it, but it started to grow. I had it removed after last season.”

The diagnosis was lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system which is part of the body’s germ-fighting network. The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow.

Surprisingly, Knapp took the diagnosis as much in stride as possible.

“I was at ease,” he said. “I’m Christian and I believe that things happen for a reason. And I had the support of my family and friends. I wasn’t too worried about it.”

Knapp’s parents, Brandon and Tracy, were a different story. Especially Tracy.

“The person I worried about the most was my mom,” Knapp said. “She took it hard, and I love my mom a lot.”

There was safety in numbers. In Knapp’s corner was not only his family, but his coaches and teammates at Saint Francis and his fellow churchgoers at Calvary Chapel in San Jose.

“My church was praying for me,” Knapp said. “I was at peace because I knew they had my back. And everyone at school has also been supportive.”

HOSPITAL BLUES

Knapp needed more than prayers and well-wishes. During the off-season he traveled to the City of Hope in Duarte, 21 miles northeast of Los Angeles. There, he underwent nine weeks of chemotherapy.

“The chemo was not fun,” Knapp said. “Undergoing seven hours of getting drops through an IV. I didn’t want a PICC line or anything into my chest. I needed to stay active and keep working.”

A PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) is inserted into the arm and threaded through a vein into a larger vein in the chest. It delivers fluids or medications. But Knapp deemed that “too invasive.” The alternative was no picnic either.

“The past few months were like nothing we, as parents, have gone through,” Tracy Knapp said. “It’s hard to watch your child go through such a serious health challenge. But our family and neighbors, our school and church communities were such a help to us. We trust God and his plan for our lives.”

‘GOOD TO GO’

The path was arduous but on April 19 there was light.

“Cancer free,” Knapp tweeted. “Thank you, Jesus.”

Added Knapp, “Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, family members, my church, and everyone for having my back and being with me through this time. Prayer never fails. God wins.”

There were lessons learned along the way. Empathy was one.

“When I was in the hospital I saw a lot of things,” Knapp said. “There were a lot of people worse off than me. I saw people with Stage 4 cancer. It made me more appreciative and made me realize that God put me in this position for a reason.”

The joy has returned to the Knapp household. The teen loves music and will sometimes crank up the volume, grab his mom’s hand, lead her out of the kitchen and dance with her.

“He’s a great dancer and he lights up the room,” Tracy said.

“We can’t wait for football season to begin this fall,” Tracy continued. “Football is Aaron’s focus and passion and he’s putting in the work to show up big for the team he loves.”

He was big in seven total games last season, completing 22 of 28 for 400 yards and five touchdowns. His QB rating was off the charts at 136. He also sported a 3.3 grade point average. 

Now cleared to play, and with Dougherty set to graduate in June and compete at Linfield University in the fall, Knapp has lofty goals for his final two prep seasons. He wants to set records. Win league. Win section. And make the state title game.

No matter the outcome, there is gratitude.

“I just thank God that I’m good to go,” he said.

John Murphy is the sports editor for the Century Group Media of Southern California. Twitter: @PrepDawg2.  

Photos courtesy of Aaron Knapp, family