The last time Donald Fusilier saw his mother alive was on June 6 when he left home to begin summer workouts with the Lindenwood University football team in St. Charles, Mo.

After Mary Fusilier’s shocking death of a massive heart attack at age 47 on Aug. 3, the Westgate High School graduate dedicated his senior season to his mother. Donald Fusilier recently capped off his senior season by playing in the All American Bowl in Minneapolis in December, getting time on both offense and defense for the Red (Stripes) team in the Stars and Stripes matchup.

“It came out of the blue,” said Fusilier of his mother’s death just a week before his birthday.

He had enrolled in March at Lindenwood, located just west of St. Louis, in time to participate in spring practice with the Lions. The previous season at Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif., Fusilier had led his team with 36 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. He also averaged 22.8 yards per kickoff return and 9.2 per punt return in earning first-team All-Conference honors.

“This year I had a different role,” said Fusilier. “The year before, Lindenwood had come up short in the (NAIA) championship game (losing 25-22 to top-seeded Sioux Falls, S.D.). The goal all year was to win the championship.”

Lindenwood started the season ranked No. 2 in the NAIAA and stayed there until a 26-20 road loss to MidAmerica Nazarene University in late September. The Lions fell to fifth in the polls after that, but didn’t suffer another loss during the regular season to finish 9-1 overall in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Unfortunately for Fusilier and his teammates, their season came to an end in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series with a 46-38 upset at the hands of 10th-ranked University of St. Francis (Ind.). Fusilier had three catches for 32 yards for the Lions in that game.

With the game tied at 38-all, a fumble near midfield gave St. Francis possession with 3:47 to go in the game. The Cougars scored the game-winner with 22 seconds remaining. Two penalties against Lindenwood, one on the PAT attempt for roughing the kicker, then one for being offsides before the next snap, gave St. Francis the ball at the 1 and the Cougars converted a 2-point run from there for the final margin.

It was a dissapointing ending to the season for Fusilier, who finished sixth on the team with 17 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns. Fusilier also had six punt returns for the Lions.

Fusilier, who also played semi-pro football for the Louisiana Hurricanes, had 101 catches for 2,363 yards and 34 touchdowns in his college and semi-pro career. The All American Bowl, a showcase for players from the NAIA and NCAA Divisions I and II as well as junior colleges and minor league football.

Originally scheduled to be played in the Metrodome on Dec. 18, the All American Bowl was moved to the University of Minnesota indoor practice facility following the collapse of the Metrodome roof under a heavy snowstorm on Dec. 12. Two games were played, with Fusilier taking part in the early game.

He had four catches for 60 yards and one rush for 30 yards in the contest. Fusilier also played one series on defense in the Stripes’ 13-0 loss to the Stars (blue team), and had one pass breakup, a fumble recovery and returned a punt 30 yards.

“That was pretty cool,” said Fusilier of the game, which featured around 200 players in the two games.

Fusilier said his mother was a big influence on him, as is his daughter Saniaya Fusilier. He also thanked his family, the Louisiana Hurricanes, David Mims of Muscles in Motion Systems, Ray Hardy of Chosen One Sports, Windy Milcent of Top Notch Sports and Acadiana High assistant coach George Harris for their support and help in his career.

Fusilier hopes to keep playing football and plans to try out with Canadian Football League and Arena League football teams. He has posted a number of videos on YouTube, which can be accessed by searching for his name at the Web site, and has a facebook fan page as well.