Conestoga graduate Mark Herzlich makes a few stops for the Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The stadium cameras panned to Mark Herzlich about an hour before the start of Sunday night's game between the New York Giants and the Eagles.

Herzlich was on his back, stretching, sweat dripping down his forehead and blending with the eye black he'd smeared onto each cheek.

Herzlich looked fierce, determined. He looked like the starting middle linebacker for the Giants.

He was.

Herzlich, 24, a graduate of Conestoga High, a graduate of Boston College, and a survivor of cancer, replaced injured linebacker Michael Boley in the Giants' starting lineup. On Sunday, Herzlich played the first defensive snaps of his NFL career. After playing only special teams during the Giants' first nine games, Boley's hamstring injury created a hole at linebacker that Giants head coach Tom Coughlin decided to fill with Herzlich, a rookie.

Herzlich's parents watched their son's big moment from a private box inside MetLife Stadium.

The Eagles won Sunday's sloppy, penalty-ridden game, 17-10.

"It was a great experience, great opportunity," Herzlich said immediately afterward. "I've loved this game; I've loved it since I was little. To be out here on this stage was really unforgettable. However, it didn't turn out the way I wanted . . . but I definitely enjoyed and soaked in the experience."

Herzlich finished the game with two solo tackles and two assisted tackles; he played about half of the Giants' defensive snaps. Although Herzlich finished the game without an overwhelming presence on paper, he flew around the field, contributing in ways not always captured on an NFL stat sheet.

"I tried to make the most of it," Herzlich said.

Herzlich's story runs deeper than just the usual local-kid-makes-good. After being named the ACC defensive player of the year in 2008, Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in his left leg. He missed Boston College's entire 2009 season. He missed racking up tackles and sacks, instead spending those months hooked up to an IV, receiving round after round of chemotherapy in a fight for his life.

Doctors diagnosed Herzlich with cancer on May 14, 2009. During an ESPN broadcast on Oct. 3, 2009, a little less than five months later, Herzlich publicly announced that he'd beaten the cancer. He returned to Boston College for the 2010 season. But Herzlich had gone from a sure thing, first-round NFL pick, to an afterthought free-agent rookie signing by the Giants.

On the first defensive snap of his NFL career, Herzlich leaned forward, took one step toward the line of scrimmage as if he might cover the run, and then turned and dropped back in excellent coverage on Eagles tight end Brent Celek.

Herzlich's play wasn't always good: he was burned for a first down across the middle on one occasion. But very often at the end of a play, Herzlich was somewhere very near the ball.

"I think I made a mistake I have to learn from," Herzlich said. ". . . I plan on going into my debriefing session and own up to my mistakes, let the guys know that I won't make them again, and then I won't make them again."