boy is a football star mother dies senior year
or it could be this:
https://storiesonline.net/s/56290:i
I know I read it and liked it, but not sure which it is without going back to re-read, so I'm finding and linking in any likely stories, the worst case is you gets links to other good stories to read.
or it could be this:
https://storiesonline.net/s/56290:i
I think it was this one, Path to Glory by Brendan Buckley, that OP is looking for.