FIELD REPORT
Birmingham senior lineman Lionel Sanchez was taken to Granada Hills Community Hospital on a stretcher after injuring his neck during a collision with Granada Hills running back Robert Ortega with 25 seconds to play in Birmingham’s 29-20 victory over the Highlanders.
The game was halted for more than 30 minutes to wait for paramedics. Players from both teams were shaken.
“Lionel and I came to Birmingham together from Sun Valley,” said Mario Palomino, a Patriot lineman. “My parents tell me they worry about me playing football. Now I know what they mean.”
Ortega was relieved when trainers told him Sanchez had movement in his fingers and toes.
“Thank God,” he said. “I was very worried. Nobody likes to see an injury like that.”
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