BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — South Park High School senior Adam Nunes had a special start to this year's football season, running for 593 yards and 7 touchdowns, breaking a single-game state record, all in honor of his late sister.
In a game against Iroquois High School, Nunes started racking up touchdowns at an impressive pace.
"After like the fourth one, I said this is a really good game," Nunes said.
That's when impressive shifted up a gear to record-breaking.
"[Head Coach Tim Delaney] said we are on pace for breaking the record," Nunes added. "He said 'Do you want to slow down or go for it?’ I said 'Coach, let's go for it.'"
"He would've been out of the game, definitely for the last drive, probably the last two drives if he wasn't so close to a historic number, so we kept him in," Delaney said.
His final stat line: 26 carries for 593 yards and 7 touchdowns.
His efforts awarded him the NYSPHSAA record for rushing yards in a single game.
"To have him break a single game rushing record within the state is really significant," Delaney said.
While that record number of yards is a feat on its own for Nunes, the 7 touchdowns he scored meant even more.
"It was emotional because I have an angel on top watching me," Nunes said.
His sister Char’dae was killed after being struck by a car on the Kensington Expressway in February.
Loved ones gathered on the Kensington Expressway in February to remember Nunes. Police shut down part of the expressway and allowed loved ones to line the road to release balloons in her memory.
Nunes wears the number 7 jersey on game days in her honor.
"That was her favorite number and the last one she had seen me play in," Nunes said. "I've got to find a way to keep my sister proud."
Adam often wears his sister's picture on his shirt underneath his jersey and will continue this season in memory of her.
That record-breaking performance in honor of his late sister is why South Park’s Adam Nunes is this week’s First Student Super 7 Athlete of the Week.
