The thud was audible. The airborne helmet was visible.
This wasn’t an ordinary football play Friday night in Pearl City. It was a jarring, first-quarter hit by 180-pound Kaiser linebacker Tommy Fisher on 130-pound Pearl City wide receiver Jacy Crail, and Crail hit the ground while his helmet rolled around.
Fisher’s hit appeared to be clean without an intent to injure, but the Cougars were flagged 15 yards for what was described as illegal contact. Fisher was ejected and will miss the Cougars’ regular-season finale against Kalaheo next week.
In all levels of football, more attention is being paid to players’ heads due to the risk of concussion. The use of the helmet to initiate contact is a no-no, and that is being enforced.
“I don’t think he did anything illegal,” Cougars coach Rich Miano said. “But I understand the officials want to err on the side of caution. But I think (former UH head coach) Dick Tomey made a good point. He thinks this type of thing, when a player is ejected, should be reviewed after the game to see if it merits the player missing the following game.”
After the game, Fisher said that when he went to make the tackle, the front of his helmet hit the top part of Crail’s chest.
It didn’t appear that Fisher lowered his head in order to spear Crail, which would have signified an intent to use the helmet as a weapon. Miano thought Fisher’s helmet hit the bottom of Crail’s facemask, serving to pop the helmet off.
The play happened so fast, and the officials likely made the call in the name of player safety, judging that the helmet was used to make the tackle, intentional or not.
Pearl City coach Robin Kami said Crail did not suffer a concussion and his head was not hurt on the play, but that he injured his shoulder and could miss time.
Kaiser’s 31-6 win in Pearl City clinched the OIA White regular-season title and eliminated the Chargers’ hopes at a share of the championship.
The Cougars were in a situation they weren’t used to at halftime, leading only 10-6, but switched from a power game to a passing attack in the second half, and it worked.
Pearl City’s five game-winning streak was stopped. Kaiser (7-1, 7-0 OIA White) has seven wins in a row.
The two teams could play again in the playoffs. Second place is still up for grabs among Radford (6-1 OIA White), Kalani (5-2) and Pearl City (5-2).
The Chargers have a big game at Radford next Friday, and Kami hopes to see his team perform like it did against Kaiser in the first half.
Pearl City’s game plan and the players’ resolve gave the Cougars fits.
“They came out and played us with confidence and adrenaline,” Miano said.
Congrats to Kaiser.It was the best white game this year.My only complaint about that hit was not the hit itself but after #41 was ejected,he was coming off the field 1 of Kaisers coach greeted #41 with a high jump butt tap(like when receivers score a TD and celebrate).That showed no class from that coach,celebrating a illegal hit and while the player was still down.That coach should also be suspended the next game along a with #41.PLEASE RICH MIANO look into this classless act of your coach!!!!!!!! Besides that it was a well played exciting white division football game. Mahalo PC FANS
Agree with above article and comment. Glad to hear Miano agreed with the refs decision to err on the side of caution. I also agree that any multi-game suspension should be automatically reviewed for ‘correctness’ of call. BUT (and I know adrenaline was pumping) the sideline celebration was in appropriate. Not only were coaches congratulating this kid, but little kids (ball boys?) other players, water girls, almost everyone on the team was congratulating this kid for the big hit he just made. Not being able to see this hit in ‘replay’ mode, I can only go with my gut feeling about what I saw and it didn’t look good. I can’t recall exactly how many plays/tackles #41 was in on prior to this hit, but it seemed like he was all over the field and in on every other tackle – makes me wonder if the kid was just really pumped up for the game or pumped up on something else???
Saw that too. That coach was Chad Ikei.
Well I see what everyone is talking about . That was a hard hit. But that come with the game. I coached this Boy#41 from Kaiser and he is a very humble kid. As for the comment of being Pumped on something else is uncalled for. That boy works hard and is trying to better himself and comments like that shouldn’t be made . {MTnet} If you played football ,you know it takes Hard Work and Dedication to play this game. Keep up the Awesome Work Tommy and I will be watching you…
Coach Jay, I only played ball for a couple of years and so only have a small taste of the hard work that it takes to play football, however hard work and dedication are in all aspects of life and I am very familiar with them. I don’t know the kid or the program that Kaiser runs, I only made the comment based upon what I saw (and heard) from the stands compared to what I’ve seen over the course of this season in other games. It could simply be that #41 (Tommy?) is in a league of his own and NFL bound, thus his ability to dominate on the field and if that’s the case awesome for him I wish him the best. However, in light of the many uses/abuses of substances (i.e. ‘roids, HGH, etc.) in sports these days, I don’t believe the comment was a stretch. It could also simply be his size compared to the other boy 180# vs 130#. Believe me, I really hope that he is as good as he is ‘all natural’ and do wish him best in his football career.
Want to see the hit for yourself? Here’s the link ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9nETMylnVU ) You make the call
Change your video settings to 1080HD by clicking on the gear looking icon on the lower right hand corner near the full screen mode icon. The video becomes really clear.
Guys that was a fricken clean hit by tommy even the link shows it. They were celebrating because it was a clean hot and all the pele on the sided line like that lwhite kid in the blue short that was the coaches won. Coach jay is right that kid is a really hard worker not steroids
Not sure how players are taught to tackle these days, but at the 30 second mark of the video it sure looks to me like #41 dips his head causing direct contact w/ other players helmet. Does nobody tackle w/ shoulders or by wrapping up legs anymore? Especially in light of the recent NFL settlement w/ players over concussions.
Mt net your a hater this tommy kid has worked hard his while life I knew him when he was about 12 and he was really hard working I know rich Miano doesn’t run a fake program
ATOP HATIN WHAT ABOUT KANAWAI NOAS HIT U PROBABLY DIDNT SEE THAT DONT HATE WHEN EVERYBODY ELSES IS DOING OT TOO