A junior varsity football player from a Michigan high school is recuperating from a fractured spine sustained when an opponent leaped on him during a play.
The event happened during the third quarter of the JV game between Lakeshore High School and Kalamazoo Central High School on September 18 in Stevensville. The mother of the wounded player recorded it on camera, and it has since gone viral. A Lakeshore player who had been tackled is seen in the video being jumped on by a Kalamazoo Central player.
According to the injured player’s mother, Courtney Mims, her son was admitted to the hospital and given a diagnosis of two spinal fractures.
She stated: “I at first was like, ‘Is that my son?’ And as soon as it clicked that it was, I couldn’t be stopped. I had to go down there,”
“I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve never been as upset or shaken up as I was over something for my son.”
“He’s out at least for this season. We don’t know if he’s going to be able to play again. He should and will make a full recovery,”
According to a statement issued by the administration of Kalamazoo Central High School, the student “made a poor choice, acting on a social media video not connected to our team and coaches,” and the incident “does not represent our football program, our coaching staff, or the values of our school community.”
