Football: Boron player in critical condition

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

A Boron High football player was in critical condition Sunday at Loma Linda Medical Center after sustaining head injuries Friday during the Bobcats’ 56-18 victory over Riverside California School for the Deaf, said Boron Athletic Director Jim Boghosian.

Vinnie Rodriguez, a sophomore running back and safety, sustained the injuries with about nine minutes to go in the game while making a tackle, Boghosian said. He walked off the field with help from a teammate before taking a seat on the bench and then collapsing and suffering seizures, Boghosian said.

‘He tackled the guy by the legs,’ Boghosian said. ‘He must have hit his head somehow when he went to the ground.’

The game was stopped after it became apparent Rodriguez’s injuries were serious. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he later underwent surgery to relieve swelling from his brain. Players attended a candlelight vigil at Boron on Saturday and voted to play Friday’s game at Kern Valley, Boghosian said.

--Ben Bolch