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Injured Football Player Remains in Coma : High schools: Condition of Madison’s Curtis Dawson upgraded.

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Madison High tailback Curtis Dawson sustained head injuries during an unsupervised informal tackle football game on school grounds last week. Although Dawson remains in a coma at Sharp Memorial Hospital, his condition was upgraded Thursday from critical to serious.

Dawson, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound junior, rushed 1,063 yards and was the City Central League Most Valuable Player last season. He also played on Madison’s basketball team.

Coach Steve Jacobacci and the Madison football staff were in Las Vegas at a coaching clinic when Dawson was hurt March 8. Jacobacci said Dawson often got together with team players and friends for “pickup” games. He said the players weren’t wearing pads or helmets when Dawson was tackled.

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“It’s not unusual for kids to get together and play,” Jacobacci said. “We warn them about (not wearing helmets), but we can’t prohibit it. They just happened to be at school. “It’s a very sad thing to happen.”

An athletic trainer and other coaches were on campus at the time Dawson was hurt, and paramedics were called immediately.

Dawson’s physician, Randall Smith, said the injury, a brain stem contusion or bruise, is unusual in a limited sports injury, as the center of the brain is well-protected.

“To be unconscious is very rare,” Smith said. “It’s just a force of bad luck. Usually, 70% would walk away from something like this, 20% might get a concussion or a ding, 5% might be goofy for a couple of months and 2 or 3% might be unconscious for a few days.”

Smith said although the brain scan looked good, Dawson wouldn’t be unconscious for six days unless there was some damage. When he will wake up and how quickly he can recover is unknown.

“He could wake up tomorrow, but he won’t wake up and be fine tomorrow,” Smith said.

Donations for the Dawson family are being accepted at Madison’s attendance and financial offices.

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Friday through Sunday, the school is holding carnival, a fund raiser for athletics. Donation buckets will be set up at the football and basketball booths.

“It’s a sad and scary thing,” said Dave Oss, an assistant football coach. “Everyone at Madison is sorry and praying for Curtis and his family.”

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