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Athlete’s story called ‘The Elkview Blind Side’

Charleston Gazette photo by F. Brian Ferguson Shaun Dotson takes in the Clay County trailer park where he once lived and saw his father get stabbed.
Charleston Gazette photo by F. Brian Ferguson
Shaun Dotson takes in the Clay County trailer park where he once lived and saw his father get stabbed.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A fresh pumpkin sat outside the trailer where Shaun Dotson once lived.

“My father,” Dotson said as he pointed, “was stabbed right there.”

The high school football player hesitated a moment as he surveyed the plot of land. Swirling around that pumpkin were old images — old, grim images.

“Bad memories,” Dotson said as he shook his head.

They are the memories, though, that Dotson has stared down. They are the memories of incidents he refused to let slow him. They are the memories he has overcome.

Today, the Herbert Hoover High senior running back leads the Cardinal Conference in rushing with 1,242 yards and 17 touchdowns. His team is in the Class AA playoff hunt with a 5-3 record.

The story of Shaun Dotson, however, has little to do with football. It centers on courage. It centers on resiliency. It centers on generosity. And it centers on the love of a Pinch couple named Dremala and Roger Nickels…

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