It was a game that ended with a flourish.
With under a minute left in the CCS Division II Championship match, St Francis Lancers' defensive back Riley Quinn intercepted what might have been a winning touchdown by the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs. And the amazing thing was he did it with only a single arm.
As the result of an amniotic band wrapping around Quinn's developing left arm while he was still a baby in the womb, the now 18-year-old St Francis-Mountain View High School senior was born without a left forearm and hand. But instead of the handicap limiting him, it spurred the straight-A student to excel not only in academics but in sports as well, reports People magazine.
"I definitely go into this with something to prove – I have to outwork everyone else to make up for it," Quinn says.
Quinn's father, Chris, believes that what was supposed to be his son's disadvantage has actually turned into an asset.
"Honestly, if he had both hands, he might just be a typical good athlete," says Chris. "Not having that hand just made him work that much hard and made his passion burn that much deeper."
With his positive outlook and drive to work hard, Quinn has emerged as a star football, baseball, and basketball player.
"He's an unbelievable competitor and has never used the fact that he is missing a hand as an excuse," Quinn's football coach Greg Calcagno says.
St. Francis' baseball coach, Mike Oakland, adds, "It's his will that sets him apart. He's our best fielding pitcher and he makes our players want to play harder and perform better."
After helping the Lancers end the high school football season at a high note, Quinn has great things to look forward to. He has recently received a full athletic scholarship from the University of San Diego, as well as a walk-on offer from Yale University.
With blessing after blessing, Quinn faces the future, as well as the present, with confidence.
"My philosophy is that if you see the world as a bad place, it probably will be," Quinn says. "But if you go in with good attitude and are lucky enough, like I am, to have the love and support of family and friends, then it's all going to be all right."
