They Give Buckling Down a New Meaning

A high school football player kicked off the team for wearing a razor-sharp buckle on his helmet may not have been the only player with the dangerous equipment, investigators said Friday.

Hours after St. Pius X High School junior Mike Cito was dismissed, two young men wearing shirts from the school bought 37 buckles from a sporting goods store. Investigators said the students may have been trying to replace sharpened buckles on their helmets.

On Oct. 12 at a St. Pius game, five players from Albuquerque Academy emerged from plays with bleeding cuts; one player had to get 12 stitches. A referee also was cut.

State police have launched a criminal probe, and the New Mexico Activities Association is also investigating and could suspend the school from local competitions.