East Lincoln awaits medical clearance for injured QB Chazz Surratt to play Friday

After doctors successfully fitted him into a special hinged brace for his injured elbow Tuesday, East Lincoln senior quarterback Chazz Surratt might play in Friday’s playoff game against East Burke.

His mother Brandi told the Observer it would be his final high school game.

East Lincoln coach Mike Byus said the school is awaiting medical clearance for Surratt to play.

“I want to make sure he’s healthy and safe and nothing that is done risks his future,” Byus said.

Brandi Surratt told the Observer Monday her son’s injured elbow would require surgery and 4-6 months to recover. That means Surratt -- an Associated Press all-state point guard -- will also miss basketball season. The family now plans for him to enroll at North Carolina in January to start classes, attend spring football workouts and go through rehabilitation. Chazz Surratt committed to the Tar Heels last summer after initially committing to Duke.

Surratt sustained ligament damage to his left throwing elbow during last week’s 47-6 win against Wilkes Central. He left the game in the first quarter and finished 7 yards short of breaking former Independence quarterback Chris Leak’s 13-year-old N.C. record for total offense.

Surratt has 16,583 total offensive yards. He has played quarterback the past three seasons and was an all-conference wide receiver as a freshman.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 2:44 PM with the headline "East Lincoln awaits medical clearance for injured QB Chazz Surratt to play Friday."