West Mesquite's toughest player carries a pink Supergirl backpack.

"It's supposed to be a Superman, but I couldn't really find one," Markeith Elder said, "so I just got Supergirl.

"But it's really not the 'girl' part. It's the 'super' part."

"Super" is one way of describing Elder, considering that five months ago the senior defensive back was wondering if he would play again after suffering a gunshot wound to his left knee.

The events of May 12, 2007, in Elder's words:

"We were having a dance and whatnot, and somebody said that there was a fight outside, and I was going out to go watch. Being the idiot that I was, I went out to watch.

"And the next thing I know, I saw some dude pull out a gun, and I heard someone in the background say, 'You ain't going to pull it out,' or something like that.

"And he shot it, and the bullet hit the ground and it ricocheted and hit me in the knee. That's all I can remember."

Keldrick Payton, 19, is accused of aggravated assault in connection with the incident. He is due to appear in court in November.

Elder had come to watch the drill team's spring show, but he needed to be carried inside the school with the gunshot wound.

He said his biggest concern was his football career.

"That's my life," Elder said. "That's my ticket to get me out of here and get me an education."

Elder was taken to the hospital, and word spread quickly.

"I was at a friend of mine's birthday party out on a boat on [Lake] Ray Hubbard," Van Elder, Markeith's father, said. "The only thing I could really think of was death. I thought I was fixing to go to a morgue and identify my child."

Coach Mike Overton heard the news in Austin.

"Normally, I keep my cell phone with me everywhere, and for whatever reason, I left it in the hotel room," Overton said. "When I got back, there were 40 messages on my phone. It was a shock."

Good news came with a CT scan: There were pellets from the ricocheted bullet in his knee, but there were no tears to the muscles or ligaments, and he would be able to play again. Elder would need a walker for three weeks and to go through therapy every other day for six weeks.

"They were just helping me to bend it, to get my range of motion back in my leg, because my muscles were really weak," Elder said. "I could barely stand on my left leg."

With the help of his family and friends, Elder began to regain his strength and movement. Overton's goal was to have Elder back in time for district play, but he was cautious.

"He was practicing a little bit, and his knee was still swelling," Overton said. "I told him, you're not going to play until you can get through a practice without swelling. So, for the first three weeks of the season, he wasn't ready."

LOUIS DeLUCA/DMN

Markeith Elder (left) missed West Mesquite's first three games while recovering from a gunshot wound to his left knee. He had two interceptions in his season debut.

But on Sept. 20, less than 19 weeks after being shot, Elder took the field in West Mesquite's game against Frisco Centennial, a week earlier than expected.

Even though he admits to being just "65 percent" during that game, he intercepted two passes to help his team to a 49-29 win.

"His teammates love him, and when he made those plays, we were all excited," Overton said. "After the second interception, he told me, 'Coach, I'm back.' "

He can still feel the pellets inside his leg, and his knee still gets sore after practicing, but Elder said that experience has changed him for the better.

"I'm staying out of trouble," Elder said. "I'm running away from stuff, and I don't go watch people fight anymore. I just thank God. That's all I can say."

Van Elder continues to push his son.

"I was thinking, he could have had a better game," Van Elder said of Markeith's first game back. "But I was proud to see him back out there."

Even superheroes have to start somewhere.

MARKEITH ELDER

School, class: West Mesquite, Sr.

Height, weight: 6-2, 170

2006 stats: 59 tackles, six interceptions, eight pass defenses, four fumble recoveries

In his spare time: Watches college football games with his father.

Favorite TV show: Anything on ESPN

Favorite food: Pepperoni pizza

Football idol: Troy Polamalu

Favorite subject: Math

Favorite team: Cowboys

West Mesquite (3-1, 1-1 10-4A) at Forney (1-4, 0-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday