Matt Vines

EAST POINT – Riverdale Academy quarterback Jayden Jones has been released from Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport after suffering a severe concussion in the first quarter of Friday’s game against Tallulah Academy.

Jones was airlifted by helicopter from the field to the hospital during the first quarter.

The school posted a Facebook update late Saturday morning from Jayden’s mother that indicated further testing such as an MRI revealed no additional damage beyond the concussion.

“The MRI came back OK, and they will keep an eye on the back and head,” the message read on Riverdale Academy’s Facebook post. “They said he’s very lucky, where he hit could have easily paralyzed him but God has his hand on our boy!

“It’s going to be rough for the next month because of the severity of the concussion. Thanks for all the prayers, calls and texts! We love each and every one of you!”

Jones was tackled as he stepped out of bounds on a scramble, with he and the Tallulah defender rolling after contact was made toward the bench area.

The video footage revealed nothing malicious about the tackle, just a normal form tackle that happened to occur a step out of bounds and ended with the players rolling from the momentum of the tackle.

Jones and the family have received all the love and prayers from the Riverdale community, something head coach Denver Williams said is unlike anything he’s experienced.

“At Riverdale when something tragic happens, it’s different,” said Williams, a Riverdale alum and first-year head coach whose also served as an assistant on the staff. “It’s not that it’s just a kid that’s hurt, it’s like it’s our own kid.

“When people say Riverdale is like a family, it really shows in times like these. Football players circled up praying, cheerleaders prating, parents praying, the whole stadium lifting it and leaving it in God’s hands. I’m so thankful to be a part of this Riverdale community.”

Initial reporting from a social media news entity called Woke NELA suggested that Riverdale Academy’s bench was too close to the sideline, but principal Dr. Hunter Brown wrote in the post that Riverdale’s benches were more than six feet beyond the national guideline of 12 feet.

Brown said he measured the distance to confirm.

The injury occurred in the first quarter of Friday’s game, which was suspended with Tallulah Academy leading 16-0.

The game was the finale for Riverdale (0-9), who didn’t make the playoffs after brackets were released over the weekend.

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