It’s not supposed to be like this.

Less than five years ago, Tim McNerney was having the time of his life, putting together the most productive season running the football in Knoch High School history.

He carried the ball 246 times for 1,785 yards and 24 touchdowns in leading the Knights into the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals against Montour.

That game was supposed to be a showcase of two great running backs — McNerney and Montour’s Christian Wilson — but McNerney suffered partially torn tendons in a foot the week before and could not play against Montour.

Wilson wound up carrying the ball 30 times for 236 yards and three touchdowns as Montour ended the Knights’ season with a dominating 32-6 victory as McNerney watched helplessly from the sidelines.

And I thought to myself: “It’s not supposed to be like this.”

How foolish that looks now.

Wilson went on to the University of Michigan to play linebacker. McNerney, considered under-sized and not quite fast enough for the bigger schools, went to Division III Washington & Jefferson.

He continued to excel, quickly became the Presidents’ top running back and was destined to finish among the program’s all-time top five in a number of categories.

Less than five years after watching that high school semifinal loss from the sidelines, he’s dead.

It’s not supposed to be like this.

McNerney epitomized high school football. In Knoch coach Mike King’s own words, “he was everything a high school football player is supposed to be.”

That 2007 Knoch team reached the semifinals for the first time in 15 years. King said after that game that “this team put Knoch football back on the map.”

And McNerney was its ringleader.

Knoch has become a regular participant in the WPIAL playoffs since that time. The team advanced to Heinz Field and the Triple-A championship game last year. It has developed stellar running backs in Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin and Ben Tackett.

McNerney was the start of all that.

Few people ever leave a legacy in this world and this guy left one at two places — Knoch High School and Washington & Jefferson College — at the tender age of 21.

McNerney was an example of what heart can produce on a football field.

That heart beats on in both programs, largely because of him.

No, it’s not supposed to be like this. And that’s a tragedy.

Tim McNerney’s life?

That’s a triumph.