Football Player Is Still in Coma

By Ben Bolch

Oct. 7, 2002 12 AM PT

Andrew Castillo, a senior fullback at San Gabriel Gabrielino High, remained in a coma Sunday night after suffering a head injury Friday night against Burbank.

Castillo was in critical condition at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills after surgery Sunday to remove a blood clot on the left side of his brain, said Gary Goodson, superintendent of the San Gabriel Unified School District. A similar surgery was performed Friday after Castillo was admitted to the hospital.

Castillo walked off the field after a running play, complaining of a headache, and was being attended to by a coach and administrator when he fell unconscious, Goodson said.

Coaches from both teams agreed to call the game with 10:45 remaining and Gabrielino leading, 12-7.

High School Sports

Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

Football Player Is Still in Coma

More From the Los Angeles Times