Before the prep football season began, Juan Diego safety Frankie Sutera had looked forward to his senior season as the reward for years of hard work. As a member of the 3A defending state champion team, all of the pieces were there for Sutera to again accomplish his dream of being part of a state championship team -- and he expected his dad, Frank, a steel reinforcer by profession, to be his rock on the sideline.

But on Aug. 22 -- his 18th birthday -- Sutera found himself at his dad's emergency room bedside. While his team watched the game film from the season opener, Sutera watched as his dad seized in his hospital bed as a result of the injuries he suffered in a high-speed, downhill crash while participating in the Tour of Utah 1,000 Warrior Ride, a 96-mile road bike race between Park City and Snowbird.

"I didn't want my boy to see that," said Frank Sutera. "I think he thought his dad was invincible."

The crash

Though he had yet to break in his new bike, Frank wasn't worried as he completed the first brutal climb and began the descent toward Jordanelle Reservoir at speeds topping 60 miles per hour.

That's when things went downhill.

At first, he felt a slight tremble in the frame. Seconds later, the tremble turned into a high-speed wobble. He tried to regain control, but the shaking was too much to contain. He did his best to move out of the path of other riders, but his back tire was clipped in the attempt, the impact of which threw him, "superman style," over the handlebars. After bouncing off the pavement and skidding directly into a roadside rock pile, Frank awoke to see a swarm of medical personnel scrambling to get him into an ambulance. After an unsuccessful attempt to stand up on his own, he knew he was hurt.

From the tone of the voices of his rescuers, he knew it was serious.

He was right. Frank had shattered his eye socket, scapula, shoulder, sacrum and pelvis in three places. His face was bruised, broken and cut almost beyond recognition.

But he was lucky to be alive. And with blood streaming into his eyes and mouth, he asked for his phone.

"I just wanted to talk to my wife and let her know I was in a wreck, but I was OK," he said.

Not that he was sure of it himself.

"The pain was just indescribable," he said.

The aftermath

In the two weeks following the accident, Frankie found it difficult to keep his head in the game. Every day, he went directly from football practice to visit his battered dad in the hospital. In his next two games, he couldn't help but notice his absence in the stands.

Just as his dad feared. Concerned that the emotional impact of his injuries would leave his son feeling vulnerable on the field, Frank vowed to get back to the sideline.

"It was tough not having him there," said Frankie. "But I knew he wanted me back at practice and focused."

Considering his extensive injuries, however, the road to recovery would not be an easy one.

Initially, doctors ordered Frankie's dad to a wheelchair for eight weeks. They predicted he wouldn't be able to walk normally for at least four months -- and even then, the progress would be painful and slow.

But just seven days after he was admitted into the hospital, Frank was discharged. Two weeks later, he was back on the sideline in his wheelchair. On Friday, he'll walk up the stadium stairs at Rice-Eccles Stadium to watch his son play in the 3A state title game.

"Just being able to watch him play was a huge motivation for me," said Frank. "I didn't want him to have to think about whether or not I was OK."

After all, the hits were coming just as hard with each game.

But Frankie continued to watch his dad defy the odds, he found a new strength on the field.

The game hadn't become easier. His opponent's hadn't gone soft. Rather, his perception of the game -- and of life -- had changed. In his senior season, Frankie has emerged as Juan Diego's leading tackler, averaging six takedowns a game. He's also reeled in five interceptions, just behind Keegan Andersen's six.

"Any pain I face on the field is nothing in comparison," said Frankie.

"I feel stronger because of him."

The final battle

Now, with his dad well on the road to recovery, the only obstacle on Frankie's radar is Friday's state final rematch against Hurricane. The Flyers are a familiar opponent, but Frankie is armed with some new ammunition. Though he may not be able to see him amidst the thousands expected to fill the stadium, he'll know his dad is there.

More importantly, he'll know what he's overcome.

"He's the toughest guy. It makes you realize that you can push yourself through a lot," said Sutera. "That's who I am playing for. His strength has made me more determined to pull out a win for him."

"I'm taking the whole day off," said Frank Sutera. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."