A Guilderland High School football player is working his way back to health following an emergency lifesaving surgery that derailed his junior campaign. 

Troy Bershwinger was leading a loaded defensive unit for Guilderland. His presence was felt every time he stepped onto the field. But that changed three weeks ago, a day before the team's game against Saratoga.

“It started like a normal game week," Berschwinger said. "I was pumped up. Obviously, just wanted to get a win. It was all normal until Thursday right after practice. I started feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. It actually felt like I was hungry at first, so I had a snack. It was just a sharp pain, and went to the ER and it was the colon.”

Scans revealed he was in need of immediate medical attention, and doctors removed six inches of his colon.

The news was hard to fathom for the young man's fellow Dutchmen, but with their ailing teammate watching from the hospital bed, the Guilderland players took the field carrying his jersey, with his number 56 etched into tape on their wrists.

“He represents heart, and he’s a part of this team," senior Devon McClaine says. "We felt like we were missing that this game.”

"It means a ton because football is a brotherhood," Berschwinger said. "It doesn’t get much better than that. Laying in the hospital bed seeing the whole Spectrum News thing honoring me, it was great.”

Berschwinger’s recovery timeline was six weeks, which would keep him sidelined for the rest of the football and start of the basketball season.

But his recovery is ahead of schedule. Doctors told him he’s got a realistic chance of returning to the field in a few weeks, hopefully in time for a playoff run.

“Stepping on that field for the first time is going to bring a lot back to me," Berschwinger says. "Football means a ton. I feel, once I get that first hit, I’ll be good to go.”

As quick as Coach Dan Penna would like him back, he’s taking it week by week.

“Let's make sure we’re pacing this at the right speed," Penna says of Troy's recovery. "We don’t want anything to happen. But that’s what happens when you’re young. The way the body recovers is unbelievable. He’s excited. He’s always been a part of this locker room throughout, so seeing him in the hallways, in the locker room, has been a tremendous boost to us.”

“It all goes back to them," Berschwinger adds. "James Burke stepped up for me and I want to step up for my team. When they need me, I’ll step up, and I feel like come playoffs, I’ll be ready to go.”

It's hard to believe, but playoffs are just two weeks away.