[charlie22]

I am sure all the medical personal have done an extensive evaluation. It really just comes down to the opinion of the trained professionals which unfortunately aren't 100% if this were the playoffs and he was cleared I'd say play him but in a game essentially meaningless why risk it?

While I can totally understand your line of thinking and believe it to be defensible, I do have a couple of thoughts. 1. no game is meaningless. They all mean a lot to the kids playing, particularly a senior knowing he has a very limited opportunities remaining to don his high school uniform and be on the field with his high school buddies. 2. Knowing Dale and having watched him handle concussions in the past, I'm quite confident that if there is a sliver of doubt in his mind about PT, he won't play him. While the game has meaning, it's more important to protect a kid's brain. The issue comes down to whether the docs believe PT is more susceptible to injury as a result of last weeks concussion than he would be at any other time he takes a snap. 3. If PT plays, Dale won't be running him at all. No designed run plays and instructions to throw the ball away or run out of bounds quickly if pressure is felt. Highlands pass protection has been excellent this year. Actually much, much better than I expected (Kudos to the O line there). So it wouldn't surprise me at all if Towles is the QB and is untouched the entire game.

It also wouldn't surprise me at all if McCoy starts. While he looked great against Elder once he shook off the rust, I can see Dale thinking it would be beneficial to get McCoy more experience in case Towles was to go down again in the playoffs. With Ryle a better team than what Highlands is likely play in the first couple of rounds, I can see Dale wanting to get McCoy more experience against some decent opposition.

Part of me would like to see Towles start. It's Senior Night and I'm sure he wants to be on the field with his fellow seniors. Then again, part of me would like to see McCoy start. Any one can get hurt at any time. With Towles it could be another concussion during the playoffs, a leg injury or a shoulder injury. The more "real game" experience McCoy can get, the better the Birds will be able to handle that situation if it occurs (and I pray that it doesn't).

Regardless of what happens, I'll be comfortable with the decision. Having known Dale a long, long time and seen him handle a lot of concussion injuries in the past, he'll make the right call for Towles and the team.