By Eric Egan
eegan@abcnews4.com
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Perhaps the biggest hit at last Friday's football game between St. Johns and Garrett Academy didn't even happen on the field. Instead it involved a Garrett cheerleader.
She took quite a hit and while she's doing well, the impact is fresh in her mind.
It was a routine high school football play that led to the collision. But by the time a pass from Garrett's quarterback fell incomplete, it ended with a violent impact, off the field.
"I just remember getting hit and being on the floor," said Simone Gray.
Simone is a junior at Garrett Academy. She was cheering for her school, on the sidelines, when a Falcon receiver could not stop his momentum. The pass was just out of his reach, unfortunately for Simone, she was not.
"I heard my name being called, but I wasn't paying attention," she said. "Then he just came and swept me off my feet."
Simone was facing the stands, focused on a cheer, and in seconds she said she was run over. She's not sure how the collision happened but once it did, her teammates rushed to see if she was okay.
"I really couldn't describe it. I don't know what happened. All I remember was getting ice. ...She asked my birthday and everything."
The player's shoulder pad hit Simone on her head. She was checked out by medical personnel at the game. Besides some ringing in the ear she feels just fine.
The cheerleader knows the player that hit her. He's a senior at Garrett. Simone said she hasn't talked to him yet. She does expect an apology, Tuesday at school.
"I have never been tackled and I would never recommend for anybody to be tackled," she said.
Despite the hit, Simone still loves cheering. From now on, whenever possible, she said she'll keep an extra eye on the action.
Simone has forgiven the player who collided with her and says they're still friends.
