Serious injury stops play at football home game

A Gresham football player was seriously injured in a varsity game at Douglas on Sep, 19.

Going into the second half of the game, Scots down 21-0, getting ready to set up a play after a crucial interception, junior Malaki Fong took a handoff and was driving to the end zone. Fong and Gresham’s Tucker Santilanes collided, and then Santilanes collapsed to the ground, motionless.

“I was in the play, made the hole, the play was over, and I saw him on the ground,” said senior left tackle Ayden McNabb. “I knew he got hit pretty hard, and he was knocked out cold. It could have happened to anyone on the field.”

An ambulance came after 20 minutes, and players and coaches from both teams gathered and knelt down on the field to see Santilanes off.

The Portland Tribune reported that Santilanes underwent a 3-hour surgery to repair the C5 vertebra in his neck. His recovery is ongoing. Over the weekend after the game, he was able to sit up in bed, drink orange juice, and watch a bit of college football.

The Oregon School Activities Association posted that the score would stand as final. Both teams participated in jamborees during Week 0, and therefore do not have a bye week to reschedule play.

“It’s listed as a loss for the rankings but If both teams make the playoffs, we will rematch and play out the last two quarters,” said junior O line Jae'von Franklin.

“We need to be together at this moment and not to blame it on nobody,” said senior captain Simon Nantharaj.  “People need to take it seriously, what if it was your kid, your brother, your teammate in the hospital right now? He’s a junior, his goal is to eventually walk with high mobility, we need to pray for him and be united.