A Lincoln East High School football player remained in critical condition Sunday after having emergency surgery for a head injury suffered during a game Friday night.

Brady Beran, a fullback and linebacker for the Spartans, was hurt while blocking on a kickoff return during the third quarter against Lincoln Southeast. He was able to walk to the bench, but later went into convulsions while he was being examined. Lincoln East coach John Gingery said Saturday that Beran was still in a comatose state, but his eyes were responding to light and that showed promise. "He keeps improving and that is what we're praying for."

Beran's brother, Matt, told the Lincoln Journal Star that Brady was able to respond to stimulation after the surgery. When medical personnel pinched his hand, it he squeezed back, and he moved his feet when they were tickled. Matt Beran said doctors believe a vein between the two halves of Brady's brain ruptured in the impact. Matt said in surgery they stopped the bleeding and removed some of his skull to make room for the swelling. Doctors plan to keep Brady comatose for a few days to keep him resting and prevent stress on his brain.

A second Lincoln East player, quarterback Jim Ebke, suffered a head injury while making a tackle in the first quarter and stayed on the sideline for much of the game until his condition worsened. Darrell Ebke said his son was taken to St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center for a CT scan. "He's okay, just a bad concussion." Lincoln Southeast won the game 28-3.

The injuries sparked debate over whether ambulances should be stationed at stadiums for the entirety of high school games. Ebke was taken by his parents to the hospital, but in Beran's case it took about seven minutes for an ambulance to arrive at Seacrest Field. Emergency personnel treated Beran in the meantime. Ambulances have not been stationed at Lincoln Public Schools football games for two years. After the game, Gingery and Chuck Mizerski of Southeast said ambulances should remain on-site during high school games.