JV football player’s spine broken when opponent jumps on top of him, MI mom says

A junior varsity football player has been disciplined after a viral video showed him jumping on top of an opposing player, injuring him, Michigan officials say.

An offensive lineman for Kalamazoo Central High School was seen in the video blocking a Lakeshore High School player during a Sept. 18 game. With the Lakeshore player on the ground, the Kalamazoo Central player then leapt on top of the opposing player, pancaking him as the play appeared to be over.

“And I at first was like, is that my son? And as soon as it clicked that it was, I couldn’t be stopped. I had to go down there,” Courtney Mims, the mother of the Lakeshore player, told WSBT. “I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve never been as upset or shaken up as I was over something for my son.”

Mims posted on Facebook that her son, Colton Mims, was believed to have suffered a slight spine fracture. She confirmed to WSBT that Colton broke his spine in two places, ending his season.

In a Sept. 19 statement shared on Facebook, Kalamazoo Central High School said its player made a “poor choice,” one that “does not represent our football program, our coaching staff, or the values of our school community.”

“Lives were changed in a single moment, and I am devastated that a child was injured,” school principal Valerie Boggan said in her statement. “There must be accountability, there must be consequences, and there must also be room for learning, healing, and moving forward.”

Lakeshore Public Schools Superintendent Greg Eding called the incident “intentional, unprovoked and (a) flagrant violation of the rules and appropriate sports conduct.”

“The incident... is totally unacceptable and has no place in student athletics,” Eding said in a statement to students, staff and families.

The Kalamazoo Central player received consequences that school officials said are consistent with its code of conduct and the state athletic association’s rules. It has not been released what the disciplinary actions entail.

Veteran Lakeshore broadcaster Al Pscholka said he has never seen that type of behavior in his four decades calling games.

“It was disgusting and has no place in high school football,” said Pscholka, who called for the Kalamazoo Central player to be suspended for the season.

Mims told WSBT her son is expected to make a full recovery, but it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play football again.

This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM with the headline "JV football player’s spine broken when opponent jumps on top of him, MI mom says."