Almaden Resident

Sports

Players support each other after one suffers an injury

By Dick Sparrer

There was 1:08 left on the clock, and the Los Gatos football players were celebrating in the end zone after Nick Kalpin's 54-yard touchdown run had all but clinched a victory over Pioneer in the first round of the Central Coast Section Medium School Division playoffs.

But after a few moments everyone's attention turned back to midfield where a Pioneer player lay motionless near midfield. Doctors, trainers and the Pioneer coaches rushed to the player's side and it didn't take long before everyone realized that this was more than an ankle sprain or shoulder injury.

Jordan Barnes was unconscious, and when he regained consciousness medical personnel were having trouble determining whether he had movement in his hands and feet.

The good news is that Jordan is just fine. He spent the night in the hospital and was released the next day with nothing more than a bad headache. But the fears shared by everyone at the Los Gatos field on Friday night were very real.

The Los Gatos touchdown had given the Wildcats an insurmountable 19-0 lead with just over a minute left to play. The outcome of the game was secondary, though, to the condition of the injured player. The chief of the officiating crew, Manny Sereno, asked Pioneer coach Mark Krail if he wanted to continue the game, and the two quickly agreed to just let the time expire.

"Something like that puts the game in perspective," said Krail.

Players on both sidelines stood by helplessly, watching the activities in the middle of the field as the final 1:08 ticked off the clock. They remained there a while longer before Krail directed his team to the center of the field to shake hands with the Wildcats.

The players congratulated one another, then returned to their respective sidelines, the Wildcats to celebrate a victory, the Mustangs to support a fallen teammate.

Los Gatos players participated in a muted celebration, sang their alma mater and then retreated to their locker room, leaving the Pioneer players on the field.

But the Wildcats cut short their celebration and returned to the field, some still in uniform, others in various stages of undress. They returned to the field to show their respect and concern for a fellow warrior.

The tribute was not lost on Mark Krail.

"I was really impressed by the Los Gatos kids," said Krail. "They came out and joined us in a prayer. That was comforting to our kids, and to me, that they did that. That was pretty neat."

Emergency personnel continued to concentrate on Barnes, preparing him for the journey to the hospital.

Los Gatos won a playoff game and advanced to the CCS semifinals. But the most important thing that happened last weekend is that Jordan Barnes left the hospital with a few aches and pains but no permanent disability.

And the fact that two groups of 16- and 17-year-olds pulled together in support of one of their own is a glowing tribute to these young men.

Football, after all, is just a game. But what these young men experienced on Friday night was a life lesson. And the Los Gatos and Pioneer players passed with glowing marks.