After being diagnosed with an enlarged heart, Simsbury (Conn.) receiver Danny Deitz, then a junior, received word last September that he’d be receiving a heart transplant.

While it was life-changing positive news, it likely spelled the end of his football career.

"I've been telling Coach that senior year maybe I'm your kicker," Deitz told the Hartford Courant shortly after his successful heart transplant last fall.

Deitz was told he’d never play football again.

Yet, amazingly, with serious determination (as well as a special warm-up routine and extra padding over his heart) Deitz made it back out onto the field for his senior season.

“It's nothing short of a miracle he's out there,” Simsbury head coach Dave Masters told the Hartford Courant. “He doesn't take a single play off in anything he does football-wise. He's having fun and not taking a play off. He inspires our team every day."

On Friday night, Simsbury got a victory over Enfield, but the real story was Deitz.

Less than 18 months after his heart transplant, Deitz caught a touchdown pass.

And no one was happier than Masters:

Trojans win their 4th in a row but what made it a truly special night was #85 Danny Deitz catching his first TD since his new heart!! pic.twitter.com/lL9bRdBBd0

— Coach Masters (@masters_coach) November 5, 2016

The fuss over Friday nights

Friday nights are made for high school football.

Or is it college football?

The debate about whether college conferences should arrange games on Friday nights—a night traditionally reserved for its counterpart in the prep ranks—flared up this week as the Big Ten announced its plans to schedule six games on Friday nights in the 2017 season.

"All things considered, we thought it was worthwhile to dip our toe in the water,” Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney told the Chicago Tribune this week.

The news drew criticism from those in the college and high school ranks alike.

Michigan and Penn State both announced their refusal to host Friday night games. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh took to Twitter to voice his support for high school football:

Disappointed to learn Big 10 has chosen to infringe on Friday night High school Football. We should promote rather than create obstacles

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) November 4, 2016

Wisconsin announced its willingness to host Friday night games only on Labor Day Weekend.

"As a former high school and college coach, I have great respect for the tradition and importance of Friday night high school in the state of Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest,” Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement shared on the team’s football account.

The pushback from the college end includes an awareness of the recruiting element. It’s difficult to create the same game day atmosphere—as well as get recruits on campus—on Friday nights.

On the high school side, the criticism centers on dividing allegiances. Why make local fans choose between attending (or watching) the local high school game or the college one?

Alan Beste, the executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, worries that the in-state Hawkeyes playing on Friday nights would lead to a drop in attendance at high school football games as well as increase the traffic for those trying to get to games in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area:

Our statement regarding the Big 10 playing Friday night football https://t.co/m6xVqQplTF pic.twitter.com/eNX5YhY6IO

— IHSAA - Iowa (@ihsaa_iowa) November 3, 2016

Not everyone involved in high school sports agrees.

Bobby Cox of the Indiana High School Athletic Association sees it as an opportunity more than a challenge.

"I think this is also a great opportunity for our organizations to work together to cross-promote a sport that has been under attack," Cox told the Indianapolis Star.

Playing on Friday nights is nothing new for teams in the Pac-12 and ACC. With the likes of Southern Cal, Florida State and Clemson continuing to reel in five-star recruits, it seems like those conferences haven’t suffered on the recruiting front as a result.

That will likely remain the case for the recruiting powers of the Big Ten.

However, the negative reaction from most of the high school football community throughout the Midwest, with a culture different from that on either coast, is unlikely to subside anytime soon.

The WFCA does not support Big Ten's decision to play college games on Friday nights. Further comment & info will be provided in coming days.

— WiFCA (@wifca) November 2, 2016

It's a shame that @bigten football is going to start playing on Friday nights! Friday night lights are for high school players!

— Alex Stewart (@CoachStewart68) November 3, 2016

Football for those behind bars

Lining up on the football field on Friday nights can provide young people with a chance to put the stress of everyday life aside for four quarters.

That’s especially true of Gainesville State School in Texas, which was the subject of a Dallas Morning News story this week.

The school is home to more than 250 boys from different parts of the state, all of whom have committed a felony.

The players view the team, and the school as a whole, as an amazing opportunity.

"I look at it as being blessed because, one, I have a chance to live another day, even if it's behind bars," one player said. "And two, this actually gives me a chance to evaluate and reorganize myself as a person and become a better person."

Gainesville entered Friday night’s matchup against Hirschi with a record of 1-8. After leading 15-7 at the half, Gainesville lost an utter heartbreaker, 36-35, to close the season at 1-9.

In victory or defeat, Gainesville players merely appreciate the opportunity to suit up on the gridiron under the Friday night lights.

Behind enemy lines

On Saturday afternoon when Huntley (Ill.) plays Fremd in an Illinois Class 8A state playoff game, Huntley head coach Matt Zimolzak will be coaching against some of his students.

That’s because although Zimolzak coaches at Huntley, he’s an advanced placement physics teacher at Fremd.

It’s made for an interesting week in the classroom for Zimolzak, who is in his first year as head coach at Huntley.

“It’s fun. The kids are all respectful and wishing me luck. I’m wishing them luck,” Zimolzak told the Northwest Herald. “I haven’t yet threatened them with their grades. We’ll wait until later for that.”

Adding to the intrigue, Fremd head coach Lou Sponsel took Zimolzak’s physics class when he was a senior at Fremd.

Not every superhero wears a cape

Edwardsville (Ill.) defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa is one of the nation’s top football recruits.

He’s been a starter for Edwardsville since his ninth-grade season and long ago proved himself as one of the top players in the St. Louis area.

A 6-foot-5 defensive end of Samoan decent, Epenesa is a defensive force that opponents avoid at all costs.

“He’s just a monster out there. Physically, nobody can compete with him. He’s just a man among boys, like a Superman among boys,” one opposing coach told the Belleville News-Democrat.

Epenesa’s athleticism isn’t confined to just the gridiron.

When football season ends, he joins the Edwardsville basketball team, where he was the area Player of the Year last year. And in the spring, he’s a monster with a discus as he uncorked the top throw in the country for high schoolers.

Epenesa is a real life Superman. A three-sport Superman. And he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

He’ll lead Edwardsville against Oswego on Saturday afternoon in second-round playoff action.

The 700 club

Glendale (Springfield, Mo.) head coach Mike Mauk is a bona fide offensive wizard.

During this 31-year tenure at Kenton (Ohio), Mauk created an offense that, with the help of sons Ben and Maty, shattered numerous national records.

Ben, who played quarterback for Kenton from 1999-2002, is No. 2 all-time in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) record book with 17,364 passing yards.

The one name above him?

Younger brother Maty with 18,932.

Given his track record, it should not be a surprise that the eldest Mauk is once again positioning his quarterback to post video game-like stats.

On Friday night, Glendale quarterback Alex Huston threw for 715 yards in a win over Ozark according to the News-Leader.

“We saw some things in film that we thought would maybe give us an advantage, and we were able to take advantage of that. The ball bounced our way a couple of times. It gave us momentum,” Mauk said afterward.

With the win, Glendale moved to 11-0 on the season. Huston, only a junior, has thrown for 5,799 yards and 71 touchdowns.

With potentially three games left in the season, Huston has a real shot to set the all-time single-season record for passing yards (6,540) held by Ben Mauk.

And if he continues to perform like he did on Friday night, the single-season record for touchdown passes (92) could also be in jeopardy.

Quotable

“It’s over with, and I thank the good Lord for the victory. To be honest, I felt like going into this game is when I felt the pressure for the first time because of all the friends, all the ex-players (here). I had coaches coming in from Lubbock and Dallas that coached with me. I had classmates that I played with in high school.” – Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas) head coach Phil Danaher after notching his 427th win, a Texas state record.