Trezevant's Tristian Jackson makes lasting impression for true sportsmanship displayed for injured Warrior

Marion County's Hunter Zeman gives the crowd a thumb's-up as he is taken from the field to an ambulance during the Class 2A state title game at Tennessee Tech. Trezevant's Tristian Jackson realized that Zeman was unconscious and lay motionless beneath the Warriors player until help arrived.
Marion County's Hunter Zeman gives the crowd a thumb's-up as he is taken from the field to an ambulance during the Class 2A state title game at Tennessee Tech. Trezevant's Tristian Jackson realized that Zeman was unconscious and lay motionless beneath the Warriors player until help arrived.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Trezevant defensive back Tristian Jackson made just two tackles during Saturday's Class 2A state title game, but he will be best remembered for what he didn't do. The Bears senior made a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed his heads-up decision during a scary moment in the waning minutes of his team's win.

Late in the fourth quarter Marion County punt returner Hunter Zeman took a wicked hit from several charging defenders and lay unconscious, face down on top of Jackson, who was lying on his back on the Tucker Stadium turf.

As players from both teams unpiled and began to make their way to their respective sidelines, Zeman's motionless body lay across Jackson, who became noticeably still himself in the moments before paramedics rushed onto the field to tend to Zeman.

"I said, 'Big man, you OK?' but he didn't respond, so I just stayed still and didn't want to move," Jackson said afterward. "My teammates were telling me to get up but I said, 'No, this man is hurt bad. I think he's knocked out.' So I just laid there with him on top of me and waited for somebody to come help him."

Jackson stretched out his arms to let officials know he was not going to move and continued to lie on his back as medics worked to get Zeman on a back brace and then a stretcher to be wheeled off the field.

Two referees and TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress, standing on the Trezevant sideline pointed out that as Jackson made his way off the field, he had tears in his eyes and on his cheeks and was visibly shaken. One of the referees later commended Jackson for recognizing the seriousness of the situation.

"I've never seen anything quite like that," Childress said. "Just a tremendous decision by that young man."

Asked about becoming emotional on the field, Jackson added, "I didn't know if he was just knocked out or if his neck was hurt or what, and I didn't want to be responsible for moving him and maybe hurting him worse.

"I was just laying there praying for him to be OK. I was worried for him. Does anybody know if he's OK?"

Once he was informed that Marion coaches had been told by medics that both Zeman and teammate Cory Murray - who also had been taken off the field on a stretcher - would be OK, Jackson added, "We all wanted to win today, but at the end of the day he has his life to live and a family to go home to."

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