Matthew “Matt” Donovan, the 23-year-old quarterback for Mayville State University, is currently in a medically induced coma following a serious head injury. The injury occurred during a college football game against Simpson University on September 19, resulting from a head-to-head collision in the third quarter. Medical updates on Donovan’s condition are pending as the university community rallies for his recovery.
The university said Donovan underwent emergency brain surgery that lasted more than two hours. The pressure was “many times” higher than the normal level of four, according to the school. Surgeons removed portions of his skull to relieve dangerous pressure on his brain.
The 23-year-old has been a key player for the team and is widely respected by teammates and coaches.
Broc Threinen, Donovan’s former coach at Kasson-Mantorville, said the family is passionate about the sport and everything related to it. Donovan is among the toughest people he knows, both psychologically and physically, Threinen told KARE News . She said her brother collapsed after the collision and was quickly diagnosed with a brain bleed. Head coach Rocky Larson told Valley News the collision was a “clean hit” and described it as “very normal” for a football game, adding there was nothing unusual about the play itself.
Donovan is the starting quarterback for the Mayville State Comets, an NAIA football program based in North Dakota. Donovan’s brothers were football players, and his father is a coach. His sister, Ashley Donovan, created a GoFundMe campaign following the incident.
