Travis Hunter, a rising star for the Jacksonville Jaguars, created a memorable moment before the team’s thrilling game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. Then in Week 5’s “Monday Night Football,” the Jaguars battled to a close win against the New Orleans Saints. They ultimately won the championship match 31-28.
Inside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, the event officially kicked off. Hunter laced up his jersey and prepared to defend his title. 30 minutes before kickoff, he had a sweeter reunion—that of seeing Sandy Hawkins Combs. She is a special kind of obsessed superfan, because she sat down next to him as he flew on United Airlines earlier this year.
Fast-forward to May 10, and through a stroke of fortune, Combs was seated next to Hunter as their multi-leg journey began. Just as their conversation deepened, she told him how beautiful she thought he was, telling him, “Who am I sitting next to?” This fortunate meeting in May led to a shared connection that would play out in an emotional pregame moment almost five months later.
Sandy Hawkins Combs, a member of the national board, hitched her wagon to Hunter’s star. She even shared with her sons that she wanted a Hunter jersey. In fact, she gladly donned that same uniform as she cheered on the Jags to their Super Bowl win. Her passion for the game jumped out at you. It flew during Hunter’s highlight, three receptions for 64 yards with an acrobatic 44 yard catch from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The Jaguars faced an incredibly difficult task, going up against the Chiefs. Due in no small part to Hunter’s stellar efforts, his team narrowly claimed a hard-won victory. His electric performance served to energize the Jaguars’ offense and to raise his profile on a national stage.
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