Friday night’s quarterfinal football game at Ankeny Stadium turned dramatic when Ankeny High School’s defensive line coach, former Iowa State player Greg Schoon, collapsed on the sidelines shortly after the 9:30 p.m. kickoff.
According to Chris Meglio of The Times of Ankeny, a police officer on the scene immediately began CPR and applied a defibrillator to revive the coach. After stabilizing him, officers and teammates helped load Schoon into an ambulance that was waiting at the stadium.
Witnesses reported a player raising a fist in the air as the ambulance departed, a gesture that was met with cheers from the Ankeny players on the field. The game was briefly delayed while emergency personnel attended to the situation.
Game resumes and Ankeny advances
Following the medical response, officials cleared the field and the contest resumed. Ankeny’s offense surged, ultimately defeating their opponent 51‑29. The victory moves the Wildcats into the semifinals, which will be held next week at the UNI‑Dome.
The incident underscores the importance of having trained emergency responders present at high‑school sporting events. Police officers and medical staff are routinely stationed at large venues to provide rapid assistance in case of injuries or health emergencies.
Coach Schoon’s condition was not disclosed in detail, but the swift actions of the officer and the use of a defibrillator likely prevented a more serious outcome. The Ankeny community expressed gratitude for the quick response and sent well‑wishes to the coach and his family.
As the Wildcats look ahead to the semifinal matchup, the team and its supporters remain focused on continuing their strong playoff run while keeping safety a top priority on and off the field.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
