As he battles esophageal cancer, Glen Moon has used his sense of humor to play what he calls the "cancer card."

For several weeks, Sawyer Moon planted himself in a church pew alongside his father. It was the least the Woodbury varsity quarterback could do for his dad.

"I roped him into church," Glen said with a laugh. "I did the whole guilt thing."

Sawyer's version?

"'Get up and let's go to church. Come on, I have cancer,'" Sawyer recalled his father saying.

"It was kind of funny. It made me giggle," Sawyer said. "What I think [joking] does is lighten the mood more and ease the tension of the situation."

After watching Woodbury prepare for East Ridge last Thursday, Glen Moon thanked the coach and his cancer for the rare opportunity. Parents aren't typically allowed at practice.

"One of the perks of cancer," Glen joked with Woodbury football coach Andy Hill.

Unfazed, Hill smiled and said, "It's the only perk."

JASON GONZALEZ