Junior Year Box Set

Jim tossed Mike aside, and Mike crashed into the wall and crumpled to the floor.

“Check on him and get his story,” Coach Hope told Coach Zoon. “You, come with me!” he ordered Jim.

Jim followed Coach Hope out of the room while Jill and Coach Zoon checked on Mike. He was gasping for air and holding his shoulder. Jill probed the joint and Mike cried out. That didn’t look good. Mike finally got his breathing under control.

“What was that all about?” Coach Zoon asked.

“He’s just pissed I asked his girlfriend out,” Mike said.

I was off the table in a flash. Mike was going to die!

◊◊◊

The next thing I knew, I was waking up with Jill lifting my eyelids and sticking a flashlight in my eyes, which damn near blinded me.

“Stop!” I complained and twisted my head away from her.

Shit, my head hurt. Mr. Hasting, our head trainer, was on the other side of me and looked concerned. Above me, Coach Hope and Becky, our other trainer, were looking down at me. Hell, all I needed was for my mom to walk in.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Coach Zoon swept your legs, and you landed on your head,” Coach Hope said.

“He can’t play,” Mr. Hasting said.

I tried to sit up, but Jill pinned me to the ground. I was surprised she was able to do it.

“Don’t move,” she ordered me.

“We need to get David checked and then follow concussion protocols. If he passes each step without any problems, you won’t be able to have him on the field for five days. There’s no room for discussion on this,” Mr. Hasting said as he looked right at me.

“Aw, shit!” I said.

“Dawson!” Coach Hope chastised me.

Becky left the room and came back with my clothes. When I sat up, the room started to spin, and I suddenly didn’t feel well.

“I’m going to puke,” I warned them.

Jill grabbed a wastebasket, and I lost my supper. I heard Mr. Hasting talking to Coach Hope.

“David has several symptoms: sensitivity to light, dizziness, nausea, irritability, and I would assume a headache. We need to get him to an ER and make sure he doesn’t have anything more serious, like a brain bleed.”

“That’s just great. I lose three players and a coach before we even take the field. We’ll be lucky if we win tonight,” Coach Hope complained.

Jill helped me up, and I got dressed. As I walked out into the locker room, it was dead quiet. I looked at Coach Hope and could tell we had a serious problem.

“Gather around!” I shouted and immediately regretted it.

My damaged head felt like it might actually split open. I wouldn’t yell again for a while. My yell seemed to startle everyone, and they hustled to gather around Coach Hope and myself.

“Ty, Yuri, get up here,” I said, and they both came and stood by me.

“You two have to lead us tonight, and I want everyone to listen to them. You all have to pull together as a team. Mt. Vernon will see blood in the water, and they’ll think they can rattle you, but they don’t know what you’re made of. You’re the best damned team in the State. I wouldn’t trade a single player on their team for any of you. Well, maybe we could get something for Wolf,” I said.

“Bite me!” Wolf responded.

“Listen to your coaches and play all-out. I need you guys to win one for me. We’ve faced adversity before. We’ll face it down the road. What I know is that each and every one of you has prepared for this. Now I need to get out of here. They think Coach Zoon dented my hard head,” I said.

I let Mr. Hasting lead me out of the locker room and to his car. We drove to the local Emergency Room, and they confirmed I had a concussion and didn’t need any stitches for the head cut I’d received. The doctor gave me a sheet of paper that mapped my next few days.

Phase 1: Low impact, non-strenuous, light aerobic activity such as walking or riding a stationary bike. If tolerated without return of symptoms over a 24-hour period proceed to:

Phase 2: Higher impact, higher exertion, and moderate aerobic activity such as running or jumping rope. No resistance training. If tolerated without return of symptoms over a 24-hour period proceed to:

Phase 3: Sport-specific noncontact activity. Low resistance weight training with a spotter. If tolerated without return of symptoms over a 24-hour period proceed to: