Monday, he did.
Bulldog offensive lineman Chris Justice returned home from the hospital Monday after a scary injury suffered during last week's game at Saluda.
Justice was airlifted out of the stadium following Friday's game after losing consciousness on the sidelines. According to Newberry coach Sam Baird, Justice took a glancing blow to the helmet and came off the field complaining of a bad headache.
“Chris knew who he hit, what play it was,” Baird said. “You can see the lick on tape and it wasn't anything different than any other hit. Two helmets were hitting with glancing blows. When he got back to the huddle, and got to the line for the next play, and bent over, that's when he said his head really started hurting him.”
According to Baird, fresh blood was found on his brain during a CAT scan, which indicated a hematoma, or bruising in the brain. Justice stayed in intensive care but was released Monday after an MRI showed nothing life threathening.
He hasn't returned to school yet, and will not be playing or practicing for the next couple of weeks, but a return for the season-finale against Mid-Carolina has not been ruled out.
“Chris was in good spirits, but a little disappointed that he wouldn't be able to play anymore football,” Baird said. “He could conceivably be back on the team. We'll cross that bridge when it gets here. Hopefully for Chris, he'll be able to get back out there.”
According to the Bulldogs' veteran coach, his team was pretty shaken up as it left Saluda.
“It scared them and rightfully so,” Baird said. “They saw one of their friends and teammates take a lick. We told them that football is considered by many to be a violent game. Sometimes you just get hit wrong, but you can step wrong on the sidewalk and hurt your ankle. The urgency with the helicopter really scared them. I think they learned that life is precious and you never know what the next minute will bring. A lot of them called (the coaches) Saturday to find out what was going on.”
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