BREMEN, Ga. — A Georgia football player is recovering in the hospital after being seriously injured during a game on Friday night, school officials confirmed.
Bremen High School quarterback Carson Kimball was hurt during a game against Bowden High School. The school's principal, Tim Huff, said that he was rushed to the hospital and that the athlete had no feeling in his lower body.
"Sometimes you see a hit, and you think it's shock and awe. It wasn't that," Huff said. "But we immediately knew he was hurt. There was no movement at all."
In a Sunday update, Bremen school officials said he had a good day and passed several tests. He has also been able to be with friends and family.
"Carson is a winner. He has a long road ahead, but he's a winner," the school said on social media. "He's passed several test[s] the hospital conducted. He's incredibly confident."
The community in the area and across the state quickly gathered in support of Kimball, from prayer posts from various school districts to the Bremen community gathering on Saturday in support of him and his family.
The school has also posted about selling "Carson Strong" t-shirts to help support the family during this time. Huff said Kimball's coaches describe him as a great leader, an influencer and a hard worker who is often early and stays late. He'll be missed at Friday's Homecoming game, but the the plan is to get loud again -- just as Carson would want it.
"I said, 'Carson, what would you tell your classmates,'" Huff recalled. "And [he] says, 'tell them I love them. And that I'll be walking out of this place soon."
As the community gathers in support of the beloved quarterback, the plan is to take his recovery and to get through each moment "one hour, one day, one week at a time."