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After Football Player’s Devastating Move Against Teen Rival, High School Takes “Strong” Action
A high school football game in Michigan took a frightening turn when a student knocked down his opponent and severely injured him.
“Strong and decisive action” will be taken against the student in question, the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) said after disturbing footage of the incident went viral.
The victim’s mother said she was “shaken up” and doesn’t know if her son will ever play the game again.
Highlights
- A student was caught slamming onto his opponent during a high school football game in Michigan.
- The incident took place during a match between the Kalamazoo Central High School and Lakeshore High School.
- The victim's mother was in the crowd and watched the incident unfold.
- “I’ve never been as upset or shaken up as I was over something for my son,” she said.
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A student knocked down his opponent during a high school football game in Michigan
Image credits: Google Maps
The incident took place on September 18 during a junior varsity football game, which saw the Kalamazoo Central High School play against Lakeshore High School.
A viral video from the game captured a Kalamazoo Central High School football player knocking down an opponent, identified as Colton.
The player on top then stood up as Colton continued lying on the ground.
Image credits: Pablo Flores/Lakeshore Lancer Athletics
After a brief pause, the standing player leaped into the air and dropped hard onto Colton.
The incident left spectators and online viewers stunned.
The Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) said they have been in touch with both schools since the game.
The body slam took place during a game between Kalamazoo Central High School and Lakeshore High School
Image credits: WSBT-TV
“Kalamazoo Central has taken this matter very seriously and they have taken strong and decisive action,” the MHSAA told Fox News Digital.
“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 behavior,” they continued.
Image credits: Pablo Flores/Lakeshore Lancer Athletics
The MHSAA added that the schools are handling the matter internally and additional details would later be released.
Colton’s mother Courtney Mims watched in horror as her son was seriously injured a short distance away from her.
Courtney Mims was in the crowd as she watched the incident unfold
Image credits: Courtney Mims/Facebook
“At first was like, is that my son? And as soon as it clicked that it was, I couldn’t be stopped,” she told WSBT.
“I had to go down there,” the mother continued. “It was I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve never been as upset or shaken up as I was over something for my son.”
Image credits: WSBT-TV
Upon reaching the hospital, Colton was found to have suffered two broken vertebrae in his lower spine. He was discharged and is currently on the road to recovery.
The mother said she isn’t sure if her son will ever play again.
“He’s out at least for this season,” she told the outlet. “We don’t know if he’s going to be able to play again. He should and will make a full recovery.”
The mother said she isn’t sure if her son will ever play the game again
Image credits: WSBT-TV
Courtney also spoke about how much football means to the teenagers and the dedication they put into the game.
“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,” she said.
“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,” added the mother.
Image credits: Courtney Mims/Facebook
The Kalamazoo Central High School acknowledged the incident and said their student made a “poor choice.”
They also said the incident doesn’t represent their football program, coaching team or school values.
“An incident that occurred during the recent JV football game does not represent our football program, our coaching staff, or the values of our school community,” the school wrote on Facebook.
The MHSAA said “strong and decisive action” would be taken against the Kalamazoo Central High School player
Image credits: Lakeshore Lancer Football/Facebook
“This was the action of an individual student who made a poor choice, acting on a social media video not connected to our team or coaches,” they added.
Meanwhile, Lakeshore Public Schools Superintendent Greg Eding called the Kalamazoo Central player’s behavior “totally unacceptable” and said it has “no place in student athletics.”
“This incident was an intentional, unprovoked and flagrant violation of the rules and appropriate sports conduct and resulted in an injury to one of our Lakeshore student athletes,” he said.
Image credits: WSBT-TV
When the two high school teams gathered together for a game on September 19, they said a prayer for Colton before kickoff.
Netizens left harsh comments online after watching the viral clip.
“Who is teaching them this?” one asked, while another said, “charges need to be filed.”
“He is now being recruited by WWE,” another quipped.
One wrote, “That’s so sad! I doubt he did it maliciously, he’s the big guy on the team he was just thinking he was playing around and now he has to be punished and live with the fact that he hurt that other boy.”
“I would hope criminal charges are filed as well,” one commenter harshly said
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What do you think ?
Bob Jones 2 months ago
I'm an ex rugby player and coach. (Incidentally a much tougher sport than NFL). In what sick world is it OK to jump on a defenceless player lying on the ground like that? in any rugby match that would be an instant send off and lengthy ban. I can't believe there are people defending it
Angie May 2 months ago
I bet they'd be singing an entirely different tune if it was their kid that had their spine shattered by a "fair play".
Load More Replies...
Deborah B 2 months ago
The player was down, not in play, and nowhere near the ball. This wasn't a block or a tackle, it wasn't in the course of play, it was a straight up attack intended to injure an opposing player. It's brawling, and should have resulted in the offender being sent off, and suspended for the rest of the season, if not charged with criminal a*****t.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
They probably had bets on the game.
Load More Replies...
William Teach 2 months ago
This is felony a*****t. Just because you are playing an organized sport doesn't excuse you for this time of action. He should be booted from school, and charges should be filed.
Babs McGurk 2 months ago
This occurred very near where I live, and everyone in the community is outraged. The school insists that "action has been taken regarding punishment", but because the "child" is a minor they are playing it very close to the vest. In my opinion, this "child" should be banned from sports for the rest of his life. Some in the comments say it's an acceptable "pancake" tackle, and the victim should just accept it as a football injury and deal with it. To them I say - SUCK IT. If your child was attacked in such a brutal manner you might feel differently.
FreeTheUnicorn 2 months ago
Michigan charges minors as adults all the time and regularly has kids much younger than HS age adjudicated. The people speaking out against prosecution are hypocrites at best.
Load More Replies...
Antoinette the Red 2 months ago
To the people that say that this is part of the sport and you run the risk of injury, THIS is why we can't have nice things. The victim was already down, on his belly, play was over. The big kid body slammed him AGAIN. THAT is not part of game, it's breaking the rules. If players continue to break the rules and cause DELIBERATE harm to another player, don't whine and complain when the WHOLE game gets banned from high school sports because of your "It's part of the game" defense. If you disagree with there being rules in rough sports to prevent serious injury, then maybe "snuff" films are more to your liking.
KatSaidWhat 2 months ago
Pancake followed by a WWE drop. Except this is not a f*****g WWE fake match. I hope that kid has everything taken away from him.
Mel in Georgia 2 months ago
American football is an exciting sport to watch, but terribly dangerous to play. I'm glad my kids shunned "sports ball," even though team sports can develop good qualities in kids. Too many kids end up with life-long injuries.
ethan kraner 2 months ago
this is just more proof that football is a savage and uncivilized sport. The fact that this actually isn't, like, against the rules, and a kid got his SPINE BROKEN tells you all you need to know about this terrible sport.
Scott Rackley 2 months ago
It is against the rules, shut your pie hole about s**t you don't know
Load More Replies... 
Mike F 2 months ago
Strong action my @ss. This happened very near to me and the most disgusting thing about the whole picture is that sports rule in these schools. Nothing of substance will occur to ensure that this won't happen again. The school systems here have the whole education approach wrong. I had to go to a different suburb to pick up a medication recently and I passed by two different schools. The sports facilities were absolutely top notch, I mean pro teams would be at home here. The amount of weeping around miserable test scores the fact that graduates can't write their names in cursive kinda goes by the wayside when the sports programs are mentioned. The players and coaches are untouchable, there is NO accountability and that will remain the norm until there is a shift in thinking.
Glenn Cuneo 2 months ago
"strong and decisive action" kid is off the team forever. Pretty simple actually.
FreeTheUnicorn 2 months ago
And referred to police for as.sau.lt. on what planet is losing a spot on a team sufficient reaction to intentional injury of a defense less person? What is wrong with you? I hope you were kidding.
Load More Replies...
Kate Johnson 2 months ago
I despise football. It's so incredibly boring. I've never been able to sit through a whole tedious game. It's hardly worth all the damage it does to people IMO. But this kid should be kicked off the team and expelled. He's obviously a little sociopath that will end up in prison.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
That kid should be taken to court. I don’t care if it’s “a game” and they were “playing.” IMHO, American football encourages violence and aggression. It’s never going to go away; but this kid should see some consequences. If I was driving a car and hit someone and they were seriously injured, I could end up in prison. So no excuses for football.
Scott Rackley 2 months ago
Some of these people never played ball. That is not a "pancake" and never was. That is what's called a personal foul, you could ring it up as unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct. Either way, should have been ejected.
J. Maxx 2 months ago
Nobody told you to watch the video, and there was a WARNING provided. So you're just being a s**t starter.
Load More Replies...
Bob Jones 2 months ago
I'm an ex rugby player and coach. (Incidentally a much tougher sport than NFL). In what sick world is it OK to jump on a defenceless player lying on the ground like that? in any rugby match that would be an instant send off and lengthy ban. I can't believe there are people defending it
Angie May 2 months ago
I bet they'd be singing an entirely different tune if it was their kid that had their spine shattered by a "fair play".
Load More Replies... Deborah B 2 months ago
The player was down, not in play, and nowhere near the ball. This wasn't a block or a tackle, it wasn't in the course of play, it was a straight up attack intended to injure an opposing player. It's brawling, and should have resulted in the offender being sent off, and suspended for the rest of the season, if not charged with criminal a*****t.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
They probably had bets on the game.
Load More Replies... William Teach 2 months ago
This is felony a*****t. Just because you are playing an organized sport doesn't excuse you for this time of action. He should be booted from school, and charges should be filed.
Babs McGurk 2 months ago
This occurred very near where I live, and everyone in the community is outraged. The school insists that "action has been taken regarding punishment", but because the "child" is a minor they are playing it very close to the vest. In my opinion, this "child" should be banned from sports for the rest of his life. Some in the comments say it's an acceptable "pancake" tackle, and the victim should just accept it as a football injury and deal with it. To them I say - SUCK IT. If your child was attacked in such a brutal manner you might feel differently.
FreeTheUnicorn 2 months ago
Michigan charges minors as adults all the time and regularly has kids much younger than HS age adjudicated. The people speaking out against prosecution are hypocrites at best.
Load More Replies... Antoinette the Red 2 months ago
To the people that say that this is part of the sport and you run the risk of injury, THIS is why we can't have nice things. The victim was already down, on his belly, play was over. The big kid body slammed him AGAIN. THAT is not part of game, it's breaking the rules. If players continue to break the rules and cause DELIBERATE harm to another player, don't whine and complain when the WHOLE game gets banned from high school sports because of your "It's part of the game" defense. If you disagree with there being rules in rough sports to prevent serious injury, then maybe "snuff" films are more to your liking.
KatSaidWhat 2 months ago
Pancake followed by a WWE drop. Except this is not a f*****g WWE fake match. I hope that kid has everything taken away from him.
Mel in Georgia 2 months ago
American football is an exciting sport to watch, but terribly dangerous to play. I'm glad my kids shunned "sports ball," even though team sports can develop good qualities in kids. Too many kids end up with life-long injuries.
ethan kraner 2 months ago
this is just more proof that football is a savage and uncivilized sport. The fact that this actually isn't, like, against the rules, and a kid got his SPINE BROKEN tells you all you need to know about this terrible sport.
Scott Rackley 2 months ago
It is against the rules, shut your pie hole about s**t you don't know
Load More Replies... Mike F 2 months ago
Strong action my @ss. This happened very near to me and the most disgusting thing about the whole picture is that sports rule in these schools. Nothing of substance will occur to ensure that this won't happen again. The school systems here have the whole education approach wrong. I had to go to a different suburb to pick up a medication recently and I passed by two different schools. The sports facilities were absolutely top notch, I mean pro teams would be at home here. The amount of weeping around miserable test scores the fact that graduates can't write their names in cursive kinda goes by the wayside when the sports programs are mentioned. The players and coaches are untouchable, there is NO accountability and that will remain the norm until there is a shift in thinking.
Glenn Cuneo 2 months ago
"strong and decisive action" kid is off the team forever. Pretty simple actually.
FreeTheUnicorn 2 months ago
And referred to police for as.sau.lt. on what planet is losing a spot on a team sufficient reaction to intentional injury of a defense less person? What is wrong with you? I hope you were kidding.
Load More Replies... Kate Johnson 2 months ago
I despise football. It's so incredibly boring. I've never been able to sit through a whole tedious game. It's hardly worth all the damage it does to people IMO. But this kid should be kicked off the team and expelled. He's obviously a little sociopath that will end up in prison.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 2 months ago
That kid should be taken to court. I don’t care if it’s “a game” and they were “playing.” IMHO, American football encourages violence and aggression. It’s never going to go away; but this kid should see some consequences. If I was driving a car and hit someone and they were seriously injured, I could end up in prison. So no excuses for football.
Scott Rackley 2 months ago
Some of these people never played ball. That is not a "pancake" and never was. That is what's called a personal foul, you could ring it up as unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct. Either way, should have been ejected.
J. Maxx 2 months ago
Nobody told you to watch the video, and there was a WARNING provided. So you're just being a s**t starter.
Load More Replies...
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