Kingfisher's Derek Patterson Released from Hospital

Originally Published: Dec 12, 2009 3:33 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – With about five minutes left in the first half of the 2A championship game, Kingfisher quarterback Derek Patterson sustained a head injury and had to be taken from Boone Pickens Stadium in an ambulance.

Patterson underwent a series of tests after arriving at Stillwater Medical Center, but a spokeswoman for the hospital said he checked out and had been allowed to return home. No specifics of his condition were given, but he did not need to be transferred to another hospital.

A Lincoln Christian defender hit Patterson out of bounds and pushed him farther into the Bulldogs' bench. Kingfisher native Doug Dobbs, who was filming the game from the Kingfisher sideline, said he clearly saw Patterson impact another Lincoln Christian player on the sideline. Patterson hit the side of his head on that player and immediately fell to the ground.

Trainers did not want to risk moving Patterson’s head, so they cut off his facemask but left his helmet on and put padding around his neck.

The game was delayed for more than 20 minutes as trainers cut open his shoulder pads and took off his facemask. He was put on a stretcher still wearing his helmet and pads, but Patterson gave fans a thumbs-up as he was taken off the field.