Editor’s note: This story originally ran on Bobcat Beat in November of 2014. Throughout the season, Skyline Sports will archive and reprint stories from the past pertaining to the matchups of the week.
As Steven Long ripped through Northern Arizona’s normally stout defense for a 62-yard touchdown run last month, it seemed like affirmation for the undersized Portland State running back.
Long won state titles at the Oregon 5A and 6A levels and was the Player of the Year in the Beaver State’s largest classification as a senior at Lake Oswego High. But the offers were sparing because the Portland State redshirt freshman is generously listed at 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds.
Long’s first breakout game as a college player ended with a stat line of 16 carries for 253 yards and the long score as he earned the Big Sky Conference’s weekly offensive Player of the Week award. The next week, he rushed for 118 yards in a win over Weber State.
On surface level, it looked like an undersized running back defying the odds and overcoming his size, not a rare story in the Big Sky or throughout college football.
“It was a pretty good feeling, honestly,” Long said. “It was kind of like my coming out party. It was like, ‘This kid could play.’ For me, it was nice to know I still had it and to prove to myself I could do it still.”
But Steven Long’s size is only a blip on the radar when it comes to overcoming obstacles in life.
Long was born Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. At the age of four, Angie Long saw the energetic youngster running around and was captivated by his spirit. Although she had three children of her own, the missionary decided to add a fourth and so began Steven’s journey in the United States to star football player.
As a junior, Long came back from acute compartment syndrome in his legs to lead Sherwood High to the 5A state title. As a senior, he rushed for 2,205 yards and 37 touchdowns, including 322 yards and four scores in the state title game as Lake Oswego posted a 14-0 record.
He signed with PSU in February of 2012. When he was working out in preparation for fall camp, Long tripped on a hurdle and heard a pop. He’d torn his right Achilles tendon.
The injury forced him to gray shirt that first fall. He returned for spring drills in 2013, but then strange tragedy hit again. Shortly after spring practices finished, Long began experiencing seizures. He went to the doctor and the initial news was grave.
The doctor told Long he had a spot in his brain that could very well be cancer. It turned out to be a parasitic lesion that caused a sudden onset of epilepsy.
“Being adopted and the situation I was in, there wasn’t much background medical info for me,” Long said. “When the parasite, legion thing worked its way to the brain, it was a shocker having gone through life pretty healthy, pretty stable, an athletic kid and when that hit me and I had a seizure, it kind of made me think that you can’t take this for granted. The people around me called the ambulance and got me to OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University) right away. Taking the news was rough, but I stayed positive.”
Long had successful brain surgery. Throughout his trials, he leaned on his family and his community, he said. He returned to football last fall and redshirted, earning Portland State’s Scout team Player of the Year honors.
“Going through something like that, it helps you understand the game of life a little differently,” Long said. “After I had brain surgery, I looked at life differently. I can’t take it for granted. You don’t know what the outcome is going to be because you are working on your brain, something vital. It gives you a new perspective and helps you appreciate the little things in life.”
His breakout game against NAU was a triumph in the sense that it not only proved to Long he can compete on the Division I level, but it completed his resurrection to full health.
“He came from my high school, Lake Oswego, and I watched him there,” said PSU senior receiver Kasey Closs. “I knew he could have an impact at Portland State by waiting his time and finding his niche and opportunity to explode onto the scene. With his performance against NAU, it was awesome to see after all he’s gone through with his head, his Achilles, all that.”
Long managed just 21 yards on six carries in PSU’s 31-13 loss to Idaho State last week. He’ll continue to split carries as the Vikings come to Bobcat Stadium to take on No. 15 Montana State on Saturday. Statistics may be affirming, but what Long brings to the Vikings cannot be measured on a piece of paper or in an instant replay.
“On top of his story, his recovery is the fact that he’s an incredible young man,” PSU senior defensive end and captain Brandon Tobias said. “He’s positive, bright, infectious. He affects the rest of the team with his positive energy and excitement. To see him go out and have success on the field, that’s just icing on the cake. Everyone loves the guy. The fact that he’s successful on the field now, it’s not like we didn’t expect it because he works as hard as he does. When you are positive and you work hard, good things are going to happen.”
Photo courtesy of Portland State Athletics. All Rights Reserved.
