This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
South Summit linebacker Porter Hancock is in the hospital and possibly paralyzed after suffering a dislocated neck in the Wildcats' game Friday night against Emery.
Hancock was on special teams in the third quarter, when the Emery punter fumbled the snap and attempted to run with the ball. Hancock made the tackle, but then didn't get up after the play.
Coach Jerry Parker said he didn't know right away how serious the injury was the tackle itself looked routine but soon came to the realization that Hancock's affliction could be devastating.
"I told the team that he was going to the hospital, and that we'd deal with it after the game," Parker said. "We said a prayer together and went on. But it's hit some of these kids pretty hard."
The junior linebacker was taken to Primary Children's Hospital. Parker said he was speaking to the visitors who came Saturday and Sunday, and that the feeling was coming back in his upper body. But so far, Parker said, Hancock has not had any sensation below his chest.
Parker said that he was waiting on more news from Hancock's mother about the injury.
Losing Hancock has admittedly cast a pall over the Wildcat program, and Parker said many of his players were distraught in the days following the game. South Summit will resume practice this afternoon, and Parker said he will try his best to get back to normalcy.
"We'll try to pick up the pieces and just pray that Porter gets better," Parker said. "The only things I've dealt with like this are car accidents or a gun shot wound nothing on the field, only concussions and broken bones. This is pretty tramatic."
Hancock is the second in-state athlete to suffer paralysis from a sports-related injury. Last year, Wasatch wrestler Dale Lawrence injured his neck during practice and has been recovering ever since, gaining some strength in his lower body but still mostly confined to a wheelchair. It is unclear yet whether Hancock's injury has the same severity as Lawrence's.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the injured player's last name. His name is Porter Hancock.
Kyle Goon
Twitter: @kylegoon