Everything changed for Dorian Fedrick on Sept. 27, 2013, a typical football Friday night in Palm Springs. Fedrick, a sophomore transfer, was on the bench sitting out another one of his five game per CIF rules. His season was so close to starting.
But all of that, the game itself, became unimportant in the blink of an eye when Fedrick saw his older brother Brandin approaching, tears streaming down his face.
Their brother Randy had just suffered a gunshot wound while hanging out with friends in San Bernardino. He would pass away that night at the age of 25.
Two years later, Fedrick is one of the top players in the city and one of the best safeties in the region. And there isn’t a day or game that goes by that Fedrick doesn’t think about his older brother.
“I play everyday for my brother,” says Fedrick, who’s back plate bares an R.I.P note with Randy’s initials. “It wasn’t easy but it’s getting better with time. I just play for him now. He’s my inspiration.”
“He’s been through a lot of adversity in his life,” said Redlands head coach Jim Walker. “He’s had to fight through a lot and that has made him a stronger person. He really is a leader of our defense.”
The Terriers (0-0) kick off the season Friday night at Dodge Stadium, hosting the Pac-5 Division’s Corona Santiago (0-0), marking the first step for Fedrick and his teammates to earn the program’s first playoff spot since 2012. There is also some revenge on the minds of the Terriers, who fell 47-21 to the Sharks last year.
“Oh definitely,” says Fedrick with a smile. “They got us (last year) so we are tying to get them this year. Pretty sure they are sleeping on us.”
The Terriers are optimistic for a run in 2015, armed with 31 seniors and a wealth of talent returning including Fedrick.
In fact, it was against Santiago last year that Fedrick threw his helmet into the ring as one of the best in the city. The junior led the Terriers with 17 total tackles, 15 of them solo, also grabbing one of two sacks on the night. But asked what he remembers most about that game and he’ll bring up the missed interception of Santiago’s Blake Barnett, now at Alabama.
However, the 6-foot safety would get plenty of big plays throughout the season, tallying five interceptions to go along with a team-high 92 tackles, earning himself first-team All-Citrus Belt League honors.
It was quite the breakout year after Fedrick played just three games in 2013, recording two tackles and 54 yards in kickoff return yards.
“It was an amazing season. I had high hopes but didn’t know it would be that good of a season,” said Fedrick. “I was really blessed to stay healthy. I thank my coaches for putting me in the right spot to make plays.”
One of Fedrick’s big personal goals this season is to set the Redlands High School record for interceptions in a season (nine) and break the career interception record, also nine.
Fedrick picked up football when he was eight years old, playing with the Rialto Renegades, starting out as a QB. But as he explains it, he always enjoyed hitting rather than being hit.
“If he was 40 pounds heavier he would be going to USC. He’s that type of player. He’s going to be a great player for us,” said Walker, in his 24th season. “We just need to make sure all our guys stay healthy … whatever is supposed to happen will happen, and I know he won’t have any regrets.”
Randy did not play football like Fedrick, but that didn’t stop him from holding a lot of pride for his brother, a memory that No. 1 will carry with him onto the field Friday and every game after.
“He was always so proud of me. That’s why I just come out here and play,” says Fedrick. “I know he’s watching over me.”
Dorian Fedrick
Position: Safety
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 160
2014 Stats: 92 tackles, 5 INTs
