A South East High School student was seriously injured Friday night after tackling another player during a junior varsity football game against the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies.
After a player was tackled on the sideline during the second half of the game at South East High School in South Gate, the student who made the tackle required immediate medical attention, said a member of the Los Angeles Football Officials Assn. who was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident. The student was taken to hospital by ambulance and the match ended.
An official report was filed, the person said, but was not available to the public because a minor was involved.
“I was on my knees praying that this kid can get well and get back up,” said Maywood varsity coach Cesar Trillo.
South East High School Principal Eric Jaimes sent a message to families about the incident, saying, “Our student received medical attention and is currently being treated at a medical facility. Our thoughts go out to the student and his family during this extremely difficult time.”
The student’s name had not been released as of Wednesday afternoon, nor was any information about the student’s condition released.
As of last year, there were eight athletic trainers employed at Los Angeles Unified schools — the South East had none. LA Unified requires the home team to provide an EMT or athletic trainer prior to the start of the game. It suggests the visiting team has one as well.
This month, two Alabama football players died within two weeks of each other, That was reported by NPR. Quarterback Caden Tellier, 16, died after suffering a head injury in the first half of the opening game for John T. Morgan Academy in Selma. Semaj Wilkins, 14, died after collapsing during practice at New Brockton High School on a day when the thermometer hit 96 degrees.