Taft QB Antuan Goodall released from hospital

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After he was taken by ambulance to West Hills hospital Friday night because of a “bruise on his C7 vertebra,” senior quarterback Antuan Goodall was released early this morning, Coach Matt Kerstetter said.

“He swelled up a little bit and that caused all the pain,” Kerstetter said of Goodall, whose X-rays and cat scans were negative. “He didn’t lose feeling in any extremities. He’s good on that. But his back is in pain.”

Kerstetter said Goodall will have a followup with doctors on Monday to undergo a “series of tests.” Goodall didn’t suffer any concussions, Kerstetter said.

Kerstetter said Goodall’s injury resulted “in a span of six plays where he had two shots to the head, one in the front and back” during the last two drives at quarterback and cornerback in what resulted in Taft’s 28-21 victory over El Camino Real. Nonetheless, Kerstetter said, “I don’t think there was any intent to hurt anybody.”

At the game’s conclusion, Kerstetter alerted medical personnel that Goodall would need attention. The severity of his injury appeared to be more serious once Kerstetter’s meeting with the team on the field ended.

“As soon as we finished, he basically collapsed on the ground,” Kerstetter said. “He was in so much pain, he couldn’t stand up.”

At that point, the team’s coaching staff and Goodall’s family members looked over him before the ambulance arrived. It certainly was a long and stressful night for the Taft football program.

“He’s a warrior,” Kerstetter said of Goodall. “He’s played through a lot of pain.”

--Mark Medina