Former MGCCC OL Vaughn sidelined from national title game

PERKINSTON — North Alabama will play in the NCAA Division II national championship game on Saturday, but one former Mississippi Gulf Coast player on the roster won't be in Kansas City, Kansas.

Offensive lineman Cody Vaughn, who went to George County High School, suddenly developed epilepsy this year and suffered minor injuries in a car wreck less than a month ago.

"I was actually coming back from getting new medication," he said. "I had a seizure while I was driving and had a head-on collision."

There were no serious injuries in the other car, either.

Because of travel limitations, Vaughn wasn't able to join his teammates for the trip. He's been finishing up exams this week, putting a trying fall semester behind. He missed a good bit of school, but will finish in the spring with a degree in business marketing.

North Alabama (11-1), which also has former MGCCC linebacker Barron Miller on the roster, plays defending champion Northwest Missouri State (14-0) at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

"I'll be watching it from home, rooting them on," Vaughn said. "It's still exciting. I'm happy my team is there and they're doing good."

Vaughn forged a reputation for hard work in Perkinston. He played for the Bulldogs in 2013 and 2014, and earned second-team All-MACJC honors as a sophomore.

"Cody was one of those offensive lineman who was our leader," Gulf Coast coach Chad Huff said. "He came to work every single day and was physical. He brought spirit to practice and in games. He played two great years. We're proud of what he's done at North Alabama, and what it means to our program."

Vaughn said he's learned a lot this fall. He's had four seizures and gone through the issues with getting his medication adjusted. Doctors tell him now that his treatment appears to be stabilized, it'll be a maintenance issue going forward.

"It's definitely changed my perspective on a bunch of stuff," Vaughn said. "It's made me more thankful for what you have. It makes me look at stuff like that.

"I look at stuff from last year, the stuff I thought was a big deal isn't. I've definitely got more strenuous stuff now."

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