- Perris Jones was immobilized and carted off the field after a head collision
- The running back was taken from the field to UofL Hospital on Thursday evening
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Virginia’s Perris Jones is still at Louisville, a school official said Friday, a day after the running back was immobilized and carted off the field after being injured in a hard hit against No. 11 Cardinals.
Jones was taken from the field to UofL Hospital on Thursday evening, and a spokesperson said early Friday morning that the senior had movement in all his extremities and had to remain in the hospital overnight.
Jones caught a seven-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea and began running onto the field when he fumbled after a hard hit to the helmet by Cam’Ron Kelly with several other Cardinals nearby.
Malik Washington picked up the ball near the right sideline and raced down the field for the go-ahead touchdown to make it 21-14.
Kelly said the play opened up for him to make the tackle and indicated Jones tried to go low and he did go low.
Virginia running back Perris Jones (2) was injured in this head-to-head collision on Thursday
The game was stopped and players from both sidelines huddled around Jones as he was helped
“I’m just praying for him,” Kelly said. ‘I said my word to him when he was on the stretcher. I have nothing but love for him. I hope he recovers quickly.’
Spectators at L&N Stadium fell silent as medical personnel from Virginia and Louisville quickly rushed to treat Jones as he lay on the grass, and a cart quickly came onto the field.
Players from both teams knelt for about 15 minutes as Jones was treated and carefully lifted onto the board with his head wrapped between two pillows, and then onto the cart as the Cavaliers players gathered around him.
Fans and players applauded Jones as the cart left the field. He was taken to UofL Hospital for observation and coach Tony Elliott said after the game that Jones would get an MRI.
Fans and players applauded Jones as the cart left the field and he was taken to UofL Hospital
“We’re getting encouraging news, but I don’t want to say anything until we have it official,” Elliott said.
“It’s a very, very difficult reality of the sport we play, that any game can end like this, and you wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Man, I know one thing: (Perris Jones) is a tough young man and he puts it on the line every time he commits to this football team.
“(We) believe and pray that he will make a full recovery. I place that in the hands of the Lord and I ask for that in advance and believe that it will be the case.”
Louisville rallied to beat Virginia 31-24.
Cavaliers players and staff take a knee after the terrifying incident in Thursday night’s game