Two years after cancer diagnosis, Jacob Paskell helps Leominster beat Fitchburg at Fenway Park

BOSTON — As Jacob Paskell ran out of the tunnel Wednesday at Fenway Park, the Leominster High senior couldn’t help but smile.

Nearly two years after being diagnosed with cancer, Paskell saw his two favorite sports — baseball and football — collide in his last gridiron game. And in his final football hurrah, Paskell helped Leominster beat Fitchburg, 59-7, in the 118th edition of the Thanksgiving rivalry at the home of the Boston Red Sox.

Following the victory, Paskell held a silver baseball bat in his hands — the prize given to the Blue Devils (6-5) for beating the Red Raiders (0-11) at Fenway Park.

“Considering I never thought I'd be on the football field again, to be in a place this historic on this field with this historic team and this historic rivalry, just means a lot,” Paskell, 17, said. “I love my teammates, I love my coaches, my family and friends (and) it just means everything to hold this thing right now.”

A roller-coaster of emotions

As Jacob Paskell ran out of the tunnel for a JV football game against Algonquin on Oct. 16, 2021, the then Leominster High sophomore could hardly breathe.

“I was struggling,” he said. “I was ghost-face.”

Paskell felt dizzy and could barely move. He spent most of the game on the bench. Something wasn’t right.

Five days later, Paskell was admitted into UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Five days after that, Paskell was diagnosed with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

He had cancer.

“It was tough,” said his mother, Lisa. “Jake’s our only kid, so you never want anything to happen to any of your kids, and to only have one kid and not know anything that’s happening is tough.

“It’s like your world is falling apart.”

The next morning, Paskell underwent a series of tests and began chemotherapy treatments. He stayed at the hospital for five weeks.

At one point during his stay, teammates from Paskell’s baseball and football teams showed up outside of the hospital — which wasn’t allowing visitors at the time due to COVID-19 concerns — with signs that said, “Get well Jake, you got this” and his football jersey in tow.

“That was a big uplift for him,” his mother said.

Paskell’s cancer proceeded to go into remission, and he returned home to Leominster. Through all the ups and downs of his medical journey, Paskell finally found himself in the “maintenance phase” of his cancer diagnosis at the end of last year.

On Monday, he’ll go in for another chemotherapy session before wrapping up his final treatment on Valentine’s Day.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” his mother said. “I'll tell you that.”

A special way to go out

Following his cancer diagnosis, a social worker approached Paskell and asked if he wanted to make a wish with the Make-A-Wish foundation that tries to create life-changing moments for children with critical illnesses.

“I either wanted another dog or to go to an (MLB) All-Star Game,” Paskell said.

He opted for the latter.

This past summer, Paskell and his parents traveled to Seattle for MLB All-Star Week at T-Mobile Park.

“It was super cool to be able to go on the field before the home run derby and watch the All-Star Game,” Paskell said. “I’m a huge baseball fan.”

Paskell made his return to sports — after being cleared by doctors — last spring with baseball, and since Week 2 of the football season, he started every game at left guard for the Devils.

“He’s just a super kid and a great teammate,” Leominster football coach Devin Gates said. “He just pretty much showed all of us he’s the strongest fighter that we’ll ever meet.”

“I couldn't be more proud of him,” said Leominster High senior Domenic Swaine, who is a football and baseball teammate of Paskell. “From where he was two years ago to where he is now, he’s standing on Fenway Park. It’s just been amazing; he’s been through so much and fought so hard.”

On Wednesday, Paskell helped protect Leominster quarterback Osiris Lopez — who threw four touchdown passes in the rivalry win — while opening up holes for senior running back Chris Hatch to rush through en route to touchdown runs of 74 and 32 yards.

And after the final whistled sounded, Paskell posed for photos, including a shot of him swinging the aforementioned silver bat, before walking off the historic baseball field with his teammates.

It’s been quite the journey over the past two years for the Leominster High football and baseball player, but Paskell wouldn’t want it to end any other way.

“Two of my favorite things in the world,” Paskell said. “I get to cherish them together with the best people that I've ever met, the best people in my life and playing one of the games I love. … It’s a special way to go out.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44. 

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Leominster football beats Fitchburg in Thanksgiving game at Fenway Park