A high school in Michigan has come down hard on a football player who went viral after pancaking an opponent last week, causing severe injuries.
During a junior varsity game between between Lakeshore and Kalamazoo Central High Schools, a teenaged football player suffered spinal fractures after being pancaked by a much larger opponent – with the incident being caught on video and going viral on social media.
According to Fox News, an official with the state’s high school athletics association said that the school has taken “strong and decisive action” against the offending Lakeshore player.
“Our staff has been speaking with both schools since Friday. Kalamazoo Central has taken this matter very seriously and they have taken strong and decisive action,” the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) told the outlet.
“Due to student privacy laws, we cannot disclose the specific accountability actions, but they have exceeded what MHSAA regulations would otherwise require in cases of dangerous and unsportsmanlike behaviour.
“Our schools can provide additional details as they decide to do so, since they are handling things internally.”
During a play in last Thursday’s game, a Kalamazoo Central player named Colton gets knocked to the ground by a hit from a Lakeshore opponent wearing No. 73.
Then, with the ball 10 yards away and Colton lying on the ground, the much-larger Lakeshore player jumped up and landed with his full body weight on him.
After absorbing the massive blow, Colton was carted off the field and taken to a hospital.
Courtney Mims, Colton’s mother, revealed to local CBS affiliate WSBT that the 15-year-old suffered two fractures in his spine and was given muscle relaxers once he was released.
“These boys are high school boys. They’re 15 years old. The game means a lot to them. It’s their whole life right now. They’re there from before I get up to go to work in the morning till after dinner, putting in the work and for somebody to try to take that from somebody doing so much is awful for me to see.”
Mims said that her son should make a full recovery, but will not play again this season.
Fox News also reported that officials said the Lakeshore student “received consequences consistent with the Kalamazoo Public Schools Student Code of Conduct and in compliance with Michigan High School Athletic Association regulations.”
Kalamazoo Public Schools also provided a statement to the outlet, calling the incident an “egregious act.”
“An incident that occurred during Kalamazoo Central High School’s Junior Varsity football game on Sept. 19 was the action of an individual student who displayed an egregious act against a player on the opposing team,” Kalamazoo Public Schools said.
“This type of behaviour is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of sportsmanship, respect, and integrity that Kalamazoo Public Schools expects from student-athletes, coaches and the entire school community.”