Christian Maldonado, an outstanding two-way football player for Mater Dei, was placed on a stretcher and taken to Mission Community Hospital after suffering a neck injury in the final minute of the Mater Dei-Tesoro game Friday night. Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said there were many encouraging signs while Maldonado was being attended to, including no loss of consciousness, the ability to move all limbs, and a lessening of pain as time passed. Rollinson said the injury was very much like whiplash.
We will try to get an update on Maldonado, on Saturday.
We are praying for you Chris!
I watched this game on the Register website. The website went dead after this play, so I only saw it once but this is how I saw it. The pass was just out of Maldonado’s reach as he stretched for it and he took 2-3 steps after mssing the ball, leading with his head. The Tesoro player was heading almost straight at him and hit him fullforce with his shoulder right square on the helmet. No penalty was called, which surprised me.
It was a frightening thing to watch. I hope and pray that he recovers completely.
To “Angler”…what was surprising to all the fans (at least on the MD side) that not only was no foul called (homer refs) - but the refs turned their backs on the boy laying there on the ground and couldn’t even look at him because they knew they did him wrong. 15 yd penalty on that play and MD is victorious. Tesoro didn’t beat the Monarchs alone…they had help.
Is there anything that can be done about this? like can they look back at the play or investigate this or something to have a rematch??
i wasnt at the game but when i heard what happened to chris (who is one of my good friends) i was extremely frightened and worried for him. and i was appalled to hear that despite this incident Tesoro students were still trash talking MD students in the parking lot despite the fact that one of alot of our closest friends could be paralyzed for life depending on where he was hit! people really need to show more respect. i understand its a game but come on now.
Also what is your oppinion Steve? were you there?
I don’t know about trash talking after the game, but I do know that both sides were very respectful while the player was on the ground. Fans on both sides all clapped when he was rolled off, and remained as silent as possible throughout. As for a rematch- I think that would be overdoing it a little bit…
tesoro has had our fair share of penalties. It was difficultto watch him last night but our player who hit was so sorry and wantedto see if he was well. He was just playing football and doing his job…it wasn’t intentional. I do hope that he has a fast and complete recovery though.
It’s just you typical mader dei fans complaining about something else the receiver bobbled the ball and when he turned he got it. it was definatly not intentional and getting hit is part of the game and unfortunatly people get hurt but id just liek to hear some of you monarchs sucuk it up and just deal with the fact you got beat fair and square and stop making excuses.
I’m not defending Tesoro one way or another, but to say Tesoro doesn’t get called for any penalties just isn’t accurate.
I covered the Titans game against Dana Hills, when Tesoro was called for pass interference a half dozen times in the first half, many of those calls very questionable calls and some even keeping drives alive for the Dolphins. Now, some definitely were legit PI penalties.
But at one point in that game, Tesoro was called for 11 penalties to 1 for Dana Hills. How is that fair and balanced?
Again, not defending Tesoro one way or another, simply stating the facts of the game I was at.
We all hope Maldonado is well, he’s a great player, and a good kid with a bright future, and we’re all rooting for him.
When you watch the replay, however, its clear that Maldonado’s momentum carried him into the Tesoro player. The Tesoro player had just about stopped, but Maldonado had stretched for the ball and stumbled 2 1/2 extra steps to keep his balance. Those extra steps carried him into the Tesoro player. The Tesoro player lowered his shoulder to absorb the impact but he was more or less stopped at that point. Maldonado hit him with his neck at an awkward angle, but the impact was not all that hard when seen on replay. It was the awkward angle of the impact that hurt Maldonado.
It looked horrible, for sure, but there was nothing cheap or malicious about the Tesoro player’s actions. And, for sure, nothing for the refs to throw a flag over.
MD fans are classy with a reputation for being great sports. Its been a great standard for Tesoro fans to follow. Let’s hope that continues while we all root for the best for Maldonado and despite MD’s disappointment in the outcome.
Tobolski, watch the replay of the hit. Whether there is a pattern of calls for or against Tesoro is irrelevant. What is relevant is that nothing was called on a play that was clearly beyond just “playing the game”. This kid got away with an illegal hit, for which there was no justification, and no consequences. Calling a penalty, at a minimum, is a deterrent to repeating the action. Now we have a player who thinks it must be all right, since no penalty was called. This is disgusting, and shouldn’t be allowed to be part of high school sports. Since the Register hasn’t even reported the events accurately, you guys can take some of the blame too.
KO:
You’re right. I haven’t seen the hit.
I wasn’t responding if a penalty should or should not have been called on the play.
I was responding to the posts that say Tesoro never gets called for penalties and that there is some ref bias going on.
I’m curious to know how the Register didn’t cover this accurately. We are always interested and concerned with the facts and getting them reported fairly and accurately.
Any assistant we can receive in this matter is welcomed. Please help.
Thank you.
I am appalled about the lack of calls against tesoro. I was at the game, and granted I didn’t have a perfects spot(I was lucky to get a spot) and the whole game was Tesoro playing dirty and not being called on it. This is a sad state of affairs that on so many of the calls the refs just acted as if everything was normal. And my shock continued as one our of own went down and Tesoro band continued to play. And The team started running lines without a shred of concern. And to add I came home to watch the hit and not to my surprise it was in fact a dirty hit and totally uncalled for. After being taunted throughout the parking lot we woke up to the house toilet papered and a sign on my car informing me the score and the incorrect spelling of Mater Dei. Tesoro has a bunch of winners at that school both on the field and off.
I know the kid who made the hit, I practice with him, he is not in any way malicous or mean-spirited, I was at the game, and saw the replay, the Tesoro player had basically pulled up, his helmet just hit Maldonado at an angle that snapped his head back. I feel bad for Maldonado, I hope he makes a full recovery and continues to play football, good luck to him.
stop nagging on tesoro. tesoro has had their share of injuries, fouls, and unfair calls throughout this season. mater dei is a talented team with great sportsmanship, and the md fans posting comments shouldn’t be trashing tesoro, since it is just making themselves look bad. it was a physical game last night and in no way was tesoro’s hit intentional or uncalled for…the speed of both players and the backward angle of Maldonado was the cause of the injury.
hope he gets well soon.
I thought MD FOOTBALL was about Team. Can anyone explain why the starters were the only ones allowed in the locker room during haltime and the rest of the kids waiting outside.
I saw it live, without the benefit of replay, from the press box on the Tesoro side.
This looked like a clean play.
High-impact collisions happen in football. High school football players are bigger and faster than ever.
The Barnes guys, John and Brian, emphasize sportsmanship and clean play. They don’t coach their players to take the dirty route.
Turn the energy positive. Hope and, if you are the type to do so, pray that Maldonado is fine.
We at Tesoro are all praying for a speedy recovery for Chris Maldonado. He is a very talented player and a a formidable opponent on the football field.
It is always sad to end a wonderful season with any type of injury to a player. I hope everyone at Mater Dei can be happy and proud of their fantastic football season.
We are all trying to make our school and football arena a great place to attend games and watch competitive high school football. Last night’s game sure was fun and I hope you enjoyed playing in our neck of the woods. We were all very excited to host this game and we look forward to having you play on our fields for years to come.
Wishing the best to Barkley and ALL of the MD players.
Hey all,
RE: Update on Christian Maldonado
This post is about the well being of a young man. Not your petty thoughts on my school/your school/ refs/ or even teenagers in a parking lot.
Our prayers are with Chris.
After watching the slow-motion replay it looks intentional…..BUT..if u watch it through..In no way was it…Bennett #22 wasn’t even running when the play was hit…he simply put his shoulder down and hands out while Maldonado ran at him….2 steps is not enough time to change your action…I know The Tesoro player personally and he is in no way, shape, or form a violent or aggressive kid…
An intentional hit would be your player coming from behind on Preston King when King wasn’t even in on the play…now that was an intentional hit..even though the outcome wasn’t as bad.
And for kids talking trash…I go to Tesoro…and you dont think that when we played you last year there was stuff being said? Trash talking comes with football….I personally think that was the greatest football game I have ever seen…let alone sporting event I have ever been to…
I believe that both teams treated each other with respect…
and the only respect that wasn’t shown was the respect of the Mater Dei coach to his “non starters”…
and if someone wants to say that the locker room isn’t big enough…it is just as big as the guy’s locker room so that is b.s.
Barkley is a stud…he just throws to hard for the players he had this year…
end of story
hopefully he can recover quickly as possible.
i just want to say thank you to all the Tesoro players and fans praying for chris. He is a personal friend of mine and means alot to alot of us.
However, those who continue to talk bad and tell us MD fans to “suck it up” shame on you. No one here is complaining about the loss we know we lost us actual STUDENTS care about our friend and brother chris.
It is not always about the tesoro titans.
Pray for health for Chris.
Well said Steve Fryer. I’m sorry you take so much heat sometimes, but I think you are a great reporter. I don’t always agree with you, but I do respect you. Keep up the great work!
Anyone know how Maldonado is doing?
RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH STEVE. I AM SORRY. THEY DO NOT KEEP IT CLEAN ALL OF THE TIME.