On Sept. 6 the Orono Spartans football team took on the Dassel-Cokato Chargers in an effort to win their second league game of the season and remain undefeated.

With four minutes left in the game and the Spartans ahead 26-21,  senior, Charlie Schmid was running the ball and in an attempt to stop Schmid from gaining more yards, Dassel junior, Luke Nelson, made head-to-thigh contact with Schmid.

After the initial collision Nelson’s injuries were not apparent to players, coaches, or fans.  However, many plays after the initial hit, Nelson collapsed on the field where he then began to vomit and seize.

Nelson was taken off the field in an ambulance and transported to  the Litchfield hospital where he was later airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

That friday night at HCMC Nelson’s conditions worsened and he underwent surgery to remove the right half of his skull to reduce the swelling and allow the brain to heal.

“Your brain is so much more important than your sport,” said head football coach Jeff Weiland.

Nelson woke up on Sept. 8 in the ICU with good spirits, joking around with doctors and nurses.

“We are all pulling for him,” said senior Gunnar Olson.

Nelson remains in the ICU but is recovering quickly. On Sept. 17, Nelson went through surgery to replace the piece of skull removed from his head.

Shelby Earley is on the  Advertising Staff for The Spartan Speaks