By LISA MILLEGAN
BEE STAFF WRITER
(Published: Sunday, September 12, 1999)

   A relative said Saturday that Andrew Dignan, the 15-year-old Central Catholic football player seriously hurt in a game Friday night, is paralyzed from the chest down.

   "At this point, it doesn't look very promising," said Dignan's aunt, Sharon Grcich. "He doesn't have any movement today."

   The sophomore varsity player remains in stable but critical condition at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Grcich said he never lost consciousness and is alert and able to talk.

   "He's as sweet as he's always been," she said. "He's a wonderful boy. He was more concerned about his mother than anything." Because of his condition, only family members are allowed to visit Dignan.

   He was injured while tackling a receiver during the first quarter of a game at Hughson High School. The boy's head appeared to hit the receiver's thigh. An air ambulance landed on the school's field to transport Dignan to the hospital.

   Contacted at home Saturday, Central Catholic football coach Mike Glines was near tears.

   "I'm just lost," he said, his voice breaking. "It's devastating. I'm just not very much good to you right now."

   The school has canceled next Friday's game against Oakdale High School.

   Dignan's injury is a reminder to football players and fans that the sport they love comes with risks. Football injuries have declined dramatically since a rule change in 1976 eliminated the head as the initial contact point in blocking and tackling.

   Last fall, Ferlito Alejandro, a player for Edison High School in Stockton, died from head injuries he suffered in a game against Golden Valley High School at Merced College. Nationwide, six high school players died from football injuries during the 1998 season, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research.

   Saturday, about 200 of Dignan's classmates and friends concentrated on praying for the Modesto player. They gathered at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Modesto Saturday afternoon to recite the rosary. Some hugged and others wiped away tears before entering the church.

   "It's something you don't expect and you can't believe," said Jessica Walker, a Central Catholic senior. "It could happen to any of the football players."

   Many of the teen-agers signed messages to Dignan on large white poster boards lying on tables outside the church. They used colorful magic markers to write inspirational sayings to the boy. Several referred to his jersey number, 22.

   "At least you know that tens of thousands of people are praying for you," one friend wrote.

   "Be strong, buddy," wrote another. "We are all thinking about you."

   Friends said Dignan's injury was even harder to take because he is such a nice, thoughtful person.

   "He told the priest (who visited him in the hospital) that maybe if he couldn't walk, he'd become a priest," said family friend Paula Shimel. "That's the kind of kid he is."

   Many who attended the rosary were longtime family friends. The Dignan family is well-known in the community. Dignan's father, Jim, is former chairman of the California Republican Party, the Stanislaus County Republican Central Committee and the Stanislaus County Private Industry Council. He and his wife, Susan, and their four children long have been active members of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.

   Paul Scheidecker, who has known the family for years, said Dignan's accident comes at a particularly tough time for the family because Jim Dignan is battling cancer. "It's a tragedy upon a tragedy," he said.

JOSH CROUSE
(Published: Saturday, September 11, 1999)

   HUGHSON-- The Hughson High School football team took a tragedy-laced 22-20 victory over Central Catholic on Friday night, in a non-league opener for both teams.

   Raiders' sophomore Andrew Dignan was seriously injured and taken to Doctor's Hospital via helicopter mid way through the first quarter. Dignan was injured while trying to tackle Layton MaDonald.

   Both team's prayed together at the 50 yard line after the 40 minute delay.

   "I just wanted to say that it was pretty hard for Central to rally its troops under those extreme, heartbreaking circumstances," said Huskies' head coach Scott Ricardo. "That is a true credit to that team and its coaches."

   After Hughson (1-0) jumped out to a 15-6 halftime lead, Central rallied back in the second half and had a chance to win the game with a field goal with only seconds left.

   The Huskies survived as the 26 yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

   "This was a nice win for us," said Ricardo. "Iiked what I saw out there. We still have a lot to work on, but I think that we are in a better position than we were last year."

   Hughson's defense dominated the first quarter.

   Ther Raiders (1-0) offense was limited to only one total yard of offense after three possessions in the first quarter.

   The Huskies' offense was also quiet in the first quarter up until the delay. It wasn't until after the break that Hughson's offense asserted itself as a force to be reckoned with.

   Led by the strong running of Heath Villarreal, the Huskies marched 73 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Villarreal capped off the frive with a 12 yard touchdown trot.

   Hughson got good field position on its next possession and returned to the ground to pound out a 11 play, 46 yard touchdown drive. Villarreal finished the drive with a one yard dive into the endzone. Villarreal finished the game with 114 yards rushing on 25 carries and two touchdowns.

   Central answered on its next possession after T.J. Glines took the kickoff back 60 yards to the Huskies' 22 yard line.

   Ryan Pimentel found Antone Bogetti in the end zone from seven yards out to cut Hughson's lead to 15-6.

   The Huskies capitalized on their second drive of the third quarter and pulled away for good.

   Hughson received two crucial fourth down plays from junior quarterback Nick Brown that kept the drive alive.

   The first came on a fourth and four for a 24 yard pickup and the first down.

   The second came on a five yard scramble on a fourth down and three.

   Brown eventually scored on a one yard quarterback keeper that put the Huskies up 22-6.

   Coach Dan Brown made some great calls for us tonight, including the throw to Villarreal on fourth down," said Ricardo.

   "That was a big play. It kept our drive alive that eventually won the game."

   Brown finished the game completing 11 of 20 passes for 131 yards. He also rushed for 13 yards and a score.

   "I am very pleased with the way that (Brown) played," said Ricardo. "I knew that the skill was there. He stepped up tonight."

   The Raiders were not through yet.

   Central got the ball early in the fourth quarter and marched down the field on Pimentel's arm.

   After two big completions from Pimentel to Bogeeti, Bryon Storer ran in a touchdown from five yards out. The two point conversion failed.

   Villarreal Fumbled on a fourth down on the Huskies' next possession, giving the Raiders the ball at Hughson's 31 yard line.

   Pimentel marched his crew down the field and capped off the drive himself with a 10 yard touchdown scamper.

   Half way thru the first quarter of the Central game, a young man suffered a tragic spinal injury. Central's Andrew Digan attempted to tackle a Husky receiver, but his head was down and he crumpled to the ground and didn't move. All of us here in Hughson are praying for him.

   In this game the Husky team looked out standing for 3 quarters. Heath Villarreal lead the charge with two first half scores. Nick Brown scored in the third and it was 22-6. Central with two late scores and got into position to try a last second field for the win. The kick went wide left and the Huskies won the first game of the season.

   Hughson's play calling was exellent, the ball was spread around real well. Villarreal rushed 25 times for 106 yards. They were tough yards as the Central defense worked hard to take away our off tackle. Nick Brown put the ball up 20 times and hit 11 for 125 yards. Brown came up big on the night with his nifty running, converting twice on fourth down. Eric Banuelos had a great nite with 5 catches for 42 yards.

   The Hughson line started strong, but seemed to lose momentum late in the game. The line is smaller this year but seem to be very fast.

   The Husky defense had a tough getting pressure on Pimentel the Central qb. Hughson completely shut down the Central game. The defensive backs played a very good game, they gave up 18 catches, but with no pass rush Pimentel had a lot of time to fine an open receiver.

   I have to hand it to Central's coach Mike Glines, he had what appears to be a less talented team, but found a way to get his team back into the game. He made some great half time adjustments. As always his team was well coached and ready.

   Scott Ricardo starting his second as the Huskies head man did a great job calling plays. The team was well prepared, and will get better in the next few weeks.