Second-ranked Federal Way dominated Auburn, 43-0, on Friday night, but the Trojans were more concerned about two serious injuries to Auburn players.
Senior halfback Harold Lee and junior quarterback Brier Atkinson were taken away by ambulance for Auburn (6-2) in separate incidents.
Auburn coach Gordon Elliot said he had no medical updates but said he thought Lee had an apparent concussion and Atkinson might have whiplash.
“Those things happen in football,” Elliott said. “You just have to play hard ... and we just didn’t do a very good job of playing football tonight.”
Lee, an elusive playmaker, collapsed after a helmet-to-helmet tackle while returning a kickoff with 11 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the second quarter and Federal Way (8-0) leading 16-0.
After lying motionless for several minutes, Lee began to wiggle his feet before the ambulance arrived.
With 1:43 left in the half, Atkinson threw a pass that was intercepted by D’Londo Tucker and was blindsided on the return.
With the ambulance on the way and homecoming festivities scheduled for halftime, the referees called an end to the half, with the remaining 1:43 being played after the teams returned from the locker rooms.
“No. 1, you’re always concerned about the health of a kid,” Federal Way coach John Meagher said. “I was standing there and the kids were alert, talking and moving, so at least you knew that piece and communicate that to the kids and coaches.
“It takes a lot of energy out of the game and energy out of the players. It was just one of those things where you just have to deal with it.”
Federal Way senior running back Zeek McNeal ran for 264 yards, including touchdown runs of 92, 21 and 46 yards.
Also contributing for the Eagles were Chico McClatcher (44-yard touchdown run) and Rod Jones Jr. (touchdowns runs of 1 and 9 yards).
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