Costa Mesa Player Put on Life Support

A Costa Mesa High football player was placed on a life-support system, and, according to a school administrator, a CT scan indicated “no brain activity” after the player sustained a head injury Friday night in a game at Westminster High.

Matt Colby, a 6-foot, 185-pound defensive end, was injured in the first quarter of Costa Mesa’s 52-13 victory over Ocean View. Colby collapsed after returning to the sideline, and was taken to UCI Trauma Center by ambulance.

Kirk Bauermeister, Costa Mesa’s athletic director, said Colby “got his heartbeat back, but he still was not breathing on his own” when taken to the trauma center.

The Costa Mesa players, who kneel in prayer after every game, said a special one on this night.

“The team meets here at 11 a.m. (today), just like they do every Saturday,” Baumeister said. “Hopefully we’ll have a miracle by then.”