Palisades Park player knocked unconscious by blindside hit has no long-term injuries

A veteran Palisades Park offensive lineman was resting at home after suffering a “severe concussion” as a result of a called blindside hit during a North Jersey Interscholastic Conference football game in Garfield on Friday night.

Jon Koonce, the second-year head coach at Palisades Park, told NJ.com he received a message from parents Saturday morning that the player had been released from Hackensack University Medical Center around 5:30 a.m.

Koonce said he plans to visit the player’s home on Saturday.

After speaking to parents on Saturday morning, Koonce said the player suffered a “severe concussion” but was spared any other injuries.

Koonce was dissatisfied Saturday morning, however, when he discovered that the game tape Garfield had made available was missing the blow that caused the injury. Palisades Park was the visiting team and had not videotaped the game itself.

“I’m very upset that the play wasn’t included in the game film we got from Garfield this (Saturday),” Koonce said after a sleepless night. “I wanted to see if it was a clean hit or an unfair play.”

The player, whose name was not disclosed at the request of his parents, was injured about 10 minutes before the end of the game, which Garfield won 28-6.

The athletic administration agreed to pause the game while the player was prepared for transport by the athletic trainers of both teams and the Garfield team doctor, Koonce said.

“When I got to him, he was unconscious and convulsing,” Koonce said.

“It was on a kick return, he was caught outside and didn’t see it coming. He got hit on the crown of his helmet. Our team saw it right away, but it took a while for their fans and the bench to notice. When they did, there was silence.”

After driving back to Palisades Park High School, Koonce gathered his shaken team and spoke to them.

“We sat down with the kids and gave them the news we had at the time,” Koonce said. “I reminded the kids that 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 I’m going to get back up and keep going.”

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

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

Two weeks later, a Keyport player, Logan Blanks, suffered severe neck and throat injuries during a game against Lakewood. Blanks was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where he underwent two extensive surgeries lasting several hours to treat the injury. At the time of the injury, Blanks’ father, Donnie, said his son was expected to make a full recovery.

NJ.com reporter Steven Bassin contributed to this report.

You can reach Joe Zedalis at [email protected]

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