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EMERY, Utah — A tragic accident that paralyzed a South Summit High School football player last week stunned people across the state of Utah. Now players, parents and fans from several different schools are rallying to help him and his family.
Over 100 miles from Porter Hancock's hometown, last week's competitors are now Porter's friends. "Anyone who plays football can really relate with each other," one student said.
The brotherhood of football has made Porter's tragic accident personal for Emery High School. It may have been the other team's player who took that tragic blow to the neck during the Emery-South Summit game, paralyzing him from the chest down, but now Porter is one of their own.
"(It) could have happened to me, could have happened to anybody," said Dominic Rondinelli.
It was Dominic's shoulder Porter's head rammed into. It was a freak accident, but Dominic still feels some guilt. He says he'll forever think about Porter, every time he walks onto the field.
"I knew he was a good player, and now he's done," Dominic said.
Emery's student body is now doing all they can to help pay for Porter's medical bills — holding a school fundraiser, and hoping it will help his family cope.
"It's just the right thing to do; the kids know that. They feel a sadness just like students across the state and faculty," said Larry Davis, principal at Emery High School.
But it's not just the students at Emery High trying to help out, hundreds of people at the Bountiful-Woods Cross high school football game Friday night also collected cash. And Logan High School held a similar fundraiser during their game to raise money for Porter.
In this game, fans and athletes say, sometimes it's not about winning and losing — It's about helping a player in need.
Email: jstagg@ksl.com
