Northwestern High School Football Player Collapses During Game

Last updated on Monday, October 14, 2013

(PERU) - A Northwestern High School coach says a senior football player is doing well today after he collapsed during a game Friday night.

According to a story in the Kokomo Tribune, Northwestern's two-way standout Michael Plummer collapsed to the field in the second quarter. The Tiger senior was seen going out to the huddle before he collapsed. He was taken by ambulance to Dukes Memorial Hospital.

"Mike is stable and doing well," Northwestern coach John Hendryx tweeted late Friday night, adding Plummer will undergo another CT scan today to ensure he is OK.

Northwestern assistant coach Jordan Dyer credited the team with handling the difficult situation as well as possible.

"Hats off to our seniors. They are brothers. Every single one of them. Hats off to them for getting the team re-focused," said Dyer.

Despite the scary moment, Northwestern's football team scored a 37-18 victory over Peru on Friday night in a Mid-Indiana Conference game.

The Purple Tigers (5-3, 3-3 MIC) grabbed control in the first half, taking a 24-6 lead into halftime.

The Purple Tigers struck on their first possession. QB Trey Richmond found tight end Billy Parslow in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Northwestern was up 7-0 with 7:03 left in the opening quarter.

Northwestern struck again on its second possession when Plummer scored on a one-yard touchdown run to put the Purple Tigers up 14-0 at 2:55 of the first quarter.

Peru (4-4, 2-4 MIC) finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter as Steven McBride powered his way in from four yards as Peru trailed 14-6 with 11:41 left in the first half.

It was after each team had a possession, that Plummer collapsed to the field.

After a 30-minute delay, play resumed. Northwestern, with heavy hearts, took it to Peru as Richmond hooked up with Logan Galbraith for a 15-yard touchdown pass and a 21-6 lead. Dakota Smith later added a 37-yard field goal to give the Purple Tigers a 24-6 lead at halftime.

After another Northwestern touchdown by Logan Macaluso on a one-yard run, Peru QB Nolan Brimbury scored from two yards out to cut Northwestern's lead to 31-12 with 2:47 left in the third. The Bengal Tigers made it a 13-point game as Brimbury hooked up with Gordo Maldonaldo on a 92-yard touchdown pass, making it 31-18 with 1:01 left in the third quarter.

"Really, for the most part, Northwestern was better then us," Peru coach Bob Prescott said. "I thought we made them earn a lot of them points, but I like the way the kids hung in there, and found a way to get points back on the board. It was a testament to our growth. We are in our second year of our weight training."

Plummer had 15 carries for 108 yards and one touchdown for the winners. Richmond was 7 of 13 with no interceptions for 87 yards.

McBride led Peru with nine carries for 25 yards and one touchdown. Brimbury was 4 of 10 for 179 yards with one interception.

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