Hawthorne: Standout Stallings Out for Season After Injuring Knee

The Hawthorne High football team received bad news Wednesday when it learned that Justin Stallings, the Cougars’ standout wide receiver and strong safety, will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Coach Dan Robbins said a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed that Stallings suffered torn anterior cruciate ligaments to his right knee when he was hit during a punt return Friday night in a 34-12 victory over Torrance.

Robbins said Stallings’ injury will require surgery and keep him sidelined a minimum of eight to 10 weeks.

Stallings’ loss is a blow to the Cougars (4-1), who open Bay League play Friday night against Santa Monica (2-3) at Santa Monica College. In addition to being a two-way starter, he returned punts and kickoffs and was Hawthorne’s punter and backup quarterback.

It remains to be seen how the injury will affect the college recruitment of Stallings, one of the area’s most sought-after players.