Devils’ opener cut short after emergency

Benita Fuzzell

South Fulton High School’s 2022 football season opener was cut short Aug. 19, as a road trip to compete against Greenfield’s Yellowjackets ended on a much more unified than competitive note, following a medical emergency experienced by a Greenfield player with two minutes left to go in the fourth quarter.

Blake Rodehaver, who now suits up in a Greenfield uniform, but who once was a part of the South Fulton Red Devils roster, collapsed on the sidelines, as team trainers from both schools rushed to perform CPR on the high school senior.

Blake’s dad, Jason Rodehaver, is a former South Fulton teacher and coach, and a graduate of Fulton High School.

Ambulance personnel on site continued the CPR, and prior to loading Rodehaver into the emergency vehicle, a request was put out to the spectators for anyone who had an Epipen, to assist with attempts to revive him. Two were secured, as fans from both sides, as well as teams and cheerleaders, even the P.A. announcer, fell silent, and bowed heads in prayer.

Blake Rodehaver was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, but prior to his exit from the field, the crowd was informed he was alert, although just minutes before, he had stopped breathing and was unresponsive.

From his hospital bed on Saturday and Sunday, family members expressed their gratitude for the prayers and concerns exhibited by so many, stating tests were underway in an attempt to determine what caused the collapse. In the social media post by Rodehaver’s mother, Shonda Mullins Rodehaver, she shared that “He is still tired and not 100% of course but praise God he is here!!! We do a cardiac MRI tomorrow and meet with the EPs. Hopefully we are getting closer to answers. Not sure how much longer we will be here but I assume another few days. “
Both South Fulton and Greenfield coaching staffs and administration, after consulting with game officials, agreed to call the game as a no contest, with two minutes left on the clock, after a Greenfield punt was forced, the result of a Red Devil stop.

The first TD of the game came by way of a two-yard run in the first quarter by Greenfield’s Matt Scates. The two point attempt was no good, followed by a 31 yard bolt in by Yellowjacket Tyler Isbell, who added the two point conversion himself.

South Fulton scored before the end of the first half, in the second quarter of play, on a Dallas Whitehead three yard in for the touchdown, followed by a repeat run in for two more points.

The Red Devils’ counter did not go unanswered, as Greenfield’s Scates once again added six to the scoreboard with a 29 yard run. The extra two was no good.

South Fulton Quarterback Brady McFarland connected on a third quarter, six yard pass to Whitehead, and Whitehead scored agains for the Red Devils, but came up short on the conversion.

By quarters of play, it was Greenfield leading in the first, 6-0, as well as in the second, 14-8. South Fulton came back in the third, but was still down by a touchdown when the game was called, 20-14.

In rushing, Whitehead was 21-95, Bryant Kimmons 8-45, Will Clapper, 1-(-3), Dane Cirkles, 1-5, and Brady McFarland, 13-6 for the Red Devils.

McFarland had 10 completions out of 19 attempts for 115 yards.

On the receiving end of McFarland’s passes, Connor Allen had three receptions for 18 yards, Dane Cirkles, three for 45, Conner O’Neal, 2 for 42, Zack Hannon, 1-4 and Dallas Whitehead 1-6.
Will Clapper led his team with 8.5 tackles; Bryant Kimmons had 5.5, Zack Hannon, 6 and Conner Lawrence, 3.5.

Greenfield rushed for 196 yards total in 32 attempts, and South Fulton recorded 148 rushing yards on 44 carries.

The Yellowjackets had six completions on 10 attempts and no interceptions, while South Fulton had 10 successes in 19 throws, with two interceptions.

The Red Devils had three penalties for 35 yard and six fumbles, none of which resulted in lost possession. South Fulton had 17 first downs to Greenfield’s 12.