Concussion, no neck damage for Jefferson's Saunders

Cedar Rapids Jefferson football player Alec Saunders is scheduled to be released today from Mercy Medical Center after suffering a Grade 3 concussion in Thursday night's game at Kingston Stadium.Jefferson Coach Jim Womochil said that Saunders suffered no structural damage to the neck or spinal cord, but that the concussion will keep him out for the remainder of the season.“It's a 12-week deal,” Womochil said Friday. “It was a bad one. He lost consciousness.“Obviously, it's a big loss. He was a starter both ways. He's a good athlete. But I'm thankful that he's going to be OK.”Saunders was hit while crossing the middle of the field, trying to catch a pass in first quarter of the J-Hawks' 48-7 loss to Cedar Falls.Womochil had said Thursday that an “abnormality” had been spotted in Saunders' neck during preliminary testing, but said Friday that doctors ruled that it was not related to blow he received at Kingston.