Florida high school player air-lifted to hospital after opponent slams head into turf, bashes him with helmet

A vicious attack on a player during a high school football game in Florida resulted in that player having to be air-lifted from the stadium and flown to a Tallahassee, Florida, hospital for urgent care.

During last week's game between Blountstown High School and Marianna High School, the two programs separated by roughly 30 miles along the Sunshine State panhandle, Blountstown defender Gavin Lambeth tackled quarterback Ethan Lipford.

As shown in video from Florida TV station WMBB News 13, Lambeth tackled Lipford and then pounced on the back of the quarterback, whose head faced the turf.

Lambeth then slammed Lipford's head off the turf in back-to-back blows before he grabbed Lipford's loose helmet and cracked Lipford across his exposed head and face with the helmet.

While Lambeth was immediately ejected, reports said that Lipford had to be air-lifted more than 50 miles to a Tallahassee Memorial Health Care for emergency treatment.

While Florida High School Athletic Association rules stipulate an automatic one-game suspension for any player suspended for flagrant personal fouls during a contest, it is unclear at this time whether or not Lambeth will be permanently barred from the Blountstown team.

Lipford, who reportedly could not walk on his own nor communicate after the attack, has been discharged from the hospital.