Injured Indiana State running back Omarion Dixon continues fight, inspires others

WEST LAFAYETTE - Saturday was supposed to be a big football game for Omarion Dixon.

The Indiana State redshirt freshman was coming home to West Lafayette, where he was an all-state running back at Harrison High School, to play against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Before the season, the Sycamore football program was struck by tragedy when a single-car accident killed two Indiana State football players and another student, with two others being seriously injured.

Dixon was one of the two survivors and on Thursday was released from the hospital more than two weeks after suffering numerous injuries, including breaking both legs and feet, one of his arms and fracturing his face.

But, Dixon has a message for those in his hometown.

"Set your calendar for Sept. 7, 2024," he said from his hospital bed Wednesday night. "That is when we play Purdue again and I will be ready."

Dixon was always one to set seemingly unachievable goals that he'd soon conquer.

"He is going to have to modify things a little bit. His time schedule is different than it was," Harrison football coach Terry Peebles said. "He is going to have to set goals, but he is a guy who sets goals and accomplishes most of the goals he sets. I think he will continue to do that."

Harrison success leads to Indiana State

Just more than five miles from Purdue's campus, Harrison's football team still embodies Dixon and his program-changing impact. Prior to Dixon arriving at Harrison from the west side of Chicago as a freshman, the Raiders hadn't experienced much football success in the previous two decades.

With an offense designed to feature Dixon from the fullback position, Harrison won sectional championships in 2018 and '19.

"Omarion was the type of person to bring people along with him," Harrison senior quarterback Ben Henderson said. "He didn’t just elevate himself. He elevated others."

As a senior in 2020, Dixon averaged 9.4 yards per carry and rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns and was named one of the top 50 players in the state by the Indiana Football Coaches Association, parlaying that into an offer to play football at Indiana State.

Harrison's Omarion Dixon:2020 J&C Big School Offensive Player of the Year

"It was never fun seeing Omarion coming through that hole right at you. It always looks like he is going to run through you," Harrison senior cornerback Gavin Goodwin recalls. "He never stopped working hard. It was always his dream (to play college football). That was all he ever tried to do and eventually it did pay off for him."

Still within Dixon's high school program, his teammates try to play with the same tenacity as their former teammate, who was as physical a runner as you could hope for from someone with his size and strength (6-foot-1, 210 pounds).

"He doesn’t care how big or small you are. He will run you over with a lot of anger," Harrison senior defensive lineman Josh McKelvin said. "We all want to set our mentality just like he had his, playing with aggression and enthusiasm."

Dixon played with such ferociousness that it didn't matter who was in front of him, teammates included, he'd run you over.

"If there wasn’t a hole, he would make one. He would run right through us," Harrison senior offensive lineman Bricker Crum said. "It was so fun to watch because he would always be making stuff happen."

'We're playing for Omarion'

Harrison bounced back from a season-opening loss to West Lafayette at Lucas Oil Stadium on Aug. 19. Two days after that game, Dixon was involved in the accident.

Since, Harrison has defeated Plainfield and Marion, and the captains walked out to the opening coin toss toting Dixon's former No. 47 Harrison jersey. On Friday, the Raiders attempt to extend their winning streak to three with a home game against rival McCutcheon.

"We’re playing for Omarion this whole season. He is the hardest worker I’ve ever known," senior receiver Jake Walters said. "That’s what we’re trying to do. You may not be the best on the field, but you can be the hardest worker."

Dixon has shown that hard work even in the hardest fight he's ever endured.

Recently, he was asked to try to raise his arm. Nurses made the request believing Dixon was incapable.

Instead, he raised it above his head to everyone's shock.

That is only the beginning of his hopeful football comeback.

"Five weeks from now, I am going to be doing some intense therapy and I plan on being back at Indiana State to play football in January," Dixon said.

Dixon's accident has put some things in perspective, both for him and for those who know him best.

Peebles can attest.

"As a football coach, obviously my life revolves around football," he said. "But when something like that happens, you realize it is just a game. They are kids and you always worry about them."

Dixon is privy to his football impact at Harrison, but until his accident, he wasn't aware of just how special the community he spent his high school years living was.

A GoFundMe account was set up last month to help Dixon with expenses. As of Thursday afternoon, it had raised more than $18,000.

That has only fueled Dixon's desire to return to school and to the football field to show how much every donation benefited him.

"I feel super special. I want to thank all those people. They didn’t have to do it," Dixon said. "I want to thank them so much. I hope they get to see me do this so they know how thankful I am."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

McCutcheon (1-2) at Harrison (2-1)

Time: 7 p.m.

Sagarin ratings: McCutcheon 56.36; Harrison 68.56

Series history: Harrison has won 33 off 55 meetings, including four straight, most recently 42-0 in 2020.

About McCutcheon: The Mavericks average 24.3 points and allows 32.7 per game. … McCutcheon’s 37 points last week against Muncie Central were the most they’ve scored since Oct. 9, 2020 when they scored 56 against Muncie Central. … The Mavericks are trying to win consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 18 and 25, 2020. … Stat leaders – Passing: Owen Smith (31-67, 315 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT). … Rushing: Brad Gagnon (42 car., 241 yards, 5 TD), Ivan Escalera (20 car., 128 yards, 1 TD). … Receiving: Kam Little (11 rec., 114 yards), Tyler Hale (6 rec., 79 yards, 1 TD). … Tackles: Derrick Peete (40), Ryan Denham (30). … Interceptions: Ty Woodward (1). … Kicking: Jury Grubb (7-7 PAT, 2-2 FG, long of 25).

About Harrison: The Raiders average 29 points and allow 15.7 per game. … Harrison is ranked ninth in the Class 5A Associated Press poll and 10^th in the coaches poll. … The Raiders have won nine straight North Central Conference games dating back to Sept. 18, 2020. … Stat leaders – Passing: Ben Henderson (38-58, 479 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT). … Rushing: Carter Knoy (28 car., 240 yards, 2 TD), Ethan Popp (31 car., 191 yards, 1 TD). … Receiving: Jake Walters (12 rec., 174 yards, 3 TD), Carter McDonald (10 rec., 152 yards, 1 TD). … Tackles: Brayden Conklin (14), Gavin Goodwin (14). … Kicking: Alex Stene (9-10 PAT, 1-1 FG, long of 29).

Coach Peebles' take: “We're not good enough to show up and just beat anybody that is a good team. We know we have to focus. But focus is not going to be an issue this week. We know what the stakes are and we know who we are playing. The kids are excited. We just hope the other guys show up."