The Kahuku versus Leilehua football game once again had its share of ooh's and ah's.

But not all of them were because of plays you like to see.

Mules' wide receiver Kamana Akagi was taken by ambulance to a hospital on a backboard with a neck brace securing his head.

Akagi stretched to make a catch late in the game and was in an awkward position when hit by a Kahuku defender.

The hit was hard but totally clean.  If anything Akagi's body position had the most to due with his injury.

Regardless, the play left the senior WR flat on his back with little initial signs of movement.

So the trainers, medical staffs of both teams as well as EMT's attended to him with the utmost care and delicacy. 

Eventually Akagi gave a finger up as he was loaded into the ambulance.

Whenever you see an athlete carried out like that you hope for the best.  But are aware of the worst.

Akagi was basically "knocked out" for a few scary seconds.

Thankfully Akagi was released from the hospital the next morning (Saturday) after overnight observation.

And you wanna talk about heart?

Akagi begged his parents to let him attend Leilehua's practice that Saturday. 

So a little more than 12-hours removed from the incident, there's Akagi at practice or what the Mules call "inspiration."

Hard to argue about that being an inspiring moment. 

Akagi didn't do anything physical at inspiration. 

But his example of heart and caring for his teammates may do more in the long run.

Another classy move, Reggie Torres and the Red Raiders sent Akagi a message through Mules coach Nolan Tokuda.  In it, Kahuku expressed their concern, prayers, and wishes for a speedy recovery to Akagi.

Football is a tough, physical, collision sport filled with macho attitudes.

But it's good to see that good sportsmanship prevails in tough situations like this one.

Akagi has already been cleared by his personal doctor.

Leilehua will hold him out until the school medical staff deems him clear after its own battery of tests.

The Mules have almost two weeks before playing Baldwin in the first round of states.  I wouldn't count Akagi out of going over the middle come November 20.

***

In other injury news.  OIA football official Duane Moku was also injured late in that game to an ankle injury.

He's a good guy and we all wish him a speedy recovery as well.

Tags: Akagi, football, injury, Kahuku, Kamana, Leilehua, OC16, OIA

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