Palisades Park player knocked cold by ‘blindside hit’ has no long-term injuries

A senior offensive lineman from Palisades Park was resting at home after suffering "a major concussion" as the result of a penalized, blindside hit Friday night during a North Jersey Interscholastic Conference football game in Garfield.

Jon Koonce, the second-year head coach at Palisades Park, told NJ.com he received word from the parents Saturday morning indicating the player was released from Hackensack University Medical Center at approximately 5:30 a.m.

Koonce said he planned to visit the player's home on Saturday.

After speaking to parents Saturday morning, Koonce said the player had sustained a "major concussion" but had been cleared of all other injuries.

Koonce, however, expressed unhappiness Saturday morning when he discovered the game tape, taken and supplied by Garfield, was missing the injury-causing hit. Palisades Park was the visiting team and did not videotape the game on its own.

"I am very upset that the play wasn't included in the game film that was sent over to us from Garfield this (Saturday), Koonce said after a sleepless night. "I wanted to see if it was a clean hit or a dirty play."

The player, whose name was not released at the request of his parents, was injured with about 10 minutes left in the game, which was won by Garfield, 28-6.

Athletic administrators agreed to stop the game while the player was prepared for transport by athletic trainers from both teams and the Garfield team doctor, Koonce said.

"When I got out to him, he was out cold and convulsing," Koonce said.

"It was on a kick return, he got caught out in the open and never saw it coming. He took a hit on the crown of the helmet. Our side saw it right away, but it took a bit for their fans and bench to see it. Once they did, there was silence."

After the trip back to Palisades Park High School, Koonce gathered and addressed his shaken team.

"We sat the kids down and gave them the updates we had at the time," Koonce said. "I reminded the kids we are a family and that he needs our support. We need to come together as a family.

"You could see the fear," Koonce added. "I'm just not sure right now how to get back up and get going again."

Palisades Park (0-4) is scheduled to play at Lodi next Friday night.

In October of 2022, St. John Vianney player Aaron Van Trease suffered a serious neck injury on the third play of a game against Manasquan. A quarterback, Van Trease suffed his injury while playing defense and attempting to make a tackle. Van Trease was airlifted to a New Brunswick hospital where he underwent surgery. His recovery continues to this day.

Two weeks later a Keyport player, Logan Blanks , suffered severe neck and cervical injuries during a game versus Lakewood. Blanks was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where he had two extensive multi-hour surgeries to address the injury. At the time of the injury Blanks' father, Donnie, said his son was expected to make a full recovery.