On Monday night Lee-Davis senior quarterback Phillip Gardner suffered a severe concussion as the result of a collision that occurring during the Confederates’ annual football game against county rival Atlee.

With 2:27 left in the first half, Gardner rolled out of the pocket to his right and collided with several Atlee defensive players jolting his head back.

“I don’t even remember what happened,” Gardner said. “One of my friends told me I ducked my head and the top of my helmet hit another person’s helmet and my neck bent or something.”

After falling to the ground Gardner attempted to rise but then signaled to get the officials’ attention. 

The game was delayed for nearly a half hour as medical personnel attended to Gardner on the field, eventually immobilizing his head and strapping him to a board to be moved.

Gardner was responsive, appeared to have full movement of his arms, and at least some movement of his lower extremities as he underwent examination on the field.

Gardner was taken from the field via stretcher and carried by ambulance to MCV Hospital for further evaluation.

“They took a CAT scan and everything,” Gardner said. “They were worried about my neck and my spine and everything but everything came out negative. I just had a severe concussion. I left early in the morning and rested all day.

“I was really frustrated I couldn’t play the rest of the game but I couldn’t even remember what happened,” Gardner said. 

In his first year as the full time starter for the Confederates, Gardner was ranked among the region’s top quarterbacks all season.