Those who know Jared Tew knew he wasn’t going to let it end from the sidelines.

As he powered his way into the end zone at the 13:24 mark of the fourth quarter in the Advocare Independence Bowl, Park City’s renowned collegiate fullback completed his arduous journey back for one last game.

Tew suffered a broken fibula in the Falcons’ 27-25 loss to San Diego State on Oct. 16 that would leave the triple-option attack of Air Force without their bruising senior runner, presumably for the remainder of the season.

“He’s always been a guy that doesn’t quit,” said Jared’s father, Steve Tew. “No quit.”

That mantra would become Tew’s calling card as his fractured fibula began to heal and he, slowly, but surely, worked his way back into being able to at least give it one last shot.

“It was definitely heartbreaking. That’s now how you want to go out,” Jared Tew said. “I wanted to be able to come back and play one more game.”

Ten weeks after hobbling along the sideline on crutches and watching his team go 3-3 without him, Tew’s zeal paid off.

He was declared eligible to play in Air Force’s bowl matchup against Georgia Tech on Dec. 27. Two triple-option teams were set to face off in Shreveport, La., and head coach Troy Calhoun and his staff had “The Hammer” back.

His teammates and coaching staff gave Tew that nickname due to his unsympathetic, no-nonsense running style.

“Once my strength coach got ahold of it, I was officially known as The Hammer,” Tew said. “I was no longer known as Jared.”

The Hammer didn’t disappoint in his return.

He led the team in rushing yards (59) and carries (18) and scored the Falcons’ lone touchdown of the evening with a 3-yard plow behind offensive lineman early in the fourth quarter. Tew put Air Force up 12-7 before wide receiver Jonathan Warzeka ran in for a two-point conversion.

The Falcons went on to win 14-7.

“It meant a ton,” he said. “It was really tough standing on the sidelines for those last five games; as a player, all you want to do is contribute.”

His contribution earned him Offensive Player of the Game honors in the Independence Bowl.

“He’s a really good kid, a tough kid,” said Steve Tew. “But when he gets onto the field he turns into a different animal.”

Once Tew forced his way in for the touchdown, he launched himself to his feet, turned and pointed to the Air Force sideline and the cluster of cadets in the stands. The senior business-management major, who plans to go into pilot training after graduation, was all smiles.

“It was really special being able to contribute,” he said. “It was really special.”

In his three years suiting up for the Academy, Jared Tew racked up 1,897 yards and 17 touchdowns on 416 carries.

While his time at the Air Force Academy is ticking away, Tew credits his success to his commitment to academics, football and the military.

“You have to be committed to everything,” he said. “It’s a different college experience than most other schools, but I am definitely happy I came here. I learned a lot about myself.”

He now turns his focus to pilot training school where he’s leaning toward taking up flying fighter planes rather than transport jets. For the next 10 years, Jared Tew will be committed to the Air Force in conjunction with his pilot training.

“I’m excited to go,” he said.

During his years at Park City High School, Tew had received some interest from some local colleges and, when an Air Force Academy application arrived in the mail at the Tew household, his parents tossed it in the garbage.

“We didn’t want him going to a military school,” said a laughing Steve Tew.

But, on a crisp December night in Shreveport, the stars officially aligned for Jared Tew and he got one last game.