A Pennsylvania high school football game was suspended after one of the quarterbacks unexpectedly collapsed on the field. Karns City High School and Redbank Valley High School were playing against each other in Butler County, Pennsylvania, when Mason Martin, quarterback for Karns City, began to stagger during the third quarter. Referee Mike Vasbiner noticed Martin’s staggering and stopped the game. “I had to talk to him, and when I asked if he was alright, he told me, ‘No,’” the referee told the outlet. “So, that’s when I knew something was wrong,” said Vasbiner according to the Butler Eagle. Martin collapsed and was rushed by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Officials called off the game, determining Redbank Valley as the winner as they led the game 35-6 at the time of stoppage. Martin’s family updated KDKA-TV about their son’s condition, saying he suffered a “significant brain bleed as well as a collapsed lung.” The Karns City football team shared an update from Martin’s mother on their social media, saying, “Mason remains in critical condition with little change over the last 36 hours.” The message continued by saying, “The truth is we need a miracle. I’m not saying that to sound grim but to let you know that we need the strength of your prayers. No one believes in this kid more than us, but he needs everyone’s strength and prayers. Right now, we have to wait for the swelling to go down to assess the extent of the damage to the brain.” A prayer vigil was held the following Sunday for students, friends and family to come together and pray for a miracle.

Soon after the prayer vigil, Martin began showing positive steps toward recovery. His family released an update to their Facebook account, which was shared to the football team’s X account. “Within the last 24 hours, Mason has demonstrated some purposeful movement in his arms,” the family wrote. “His eyes have slightly reacted to light. He is also retracting his legs when his toes are pinched. His lung has completely recovered, and his chest tube has been removed. We were waiting to give a social media update at the end of the week, knowing he will have more tests and changes throughout the week, but we wanted to clear up any rumors now. This is the first positive step in an extremely long journey. The prayer vigils held at the hospital and at Karns City have overwhelmed us with his joy and motivation. We ask for your continued prayers and support. Thanks again.”