Texas Town Praying For Injured Coach "Papa"
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KAUFMAN COUNTY (CBS11) — Scurry-Rosser High School football coach Marcus "Papa" Bachtel is in critical condition Sunday afternoon after being injured during a game Friday night, according to Baylor Medical Center.
The family has declined to release any information other than Bachtel's condition.
EARLIER, 2:48 p.m.: Bachtel is "resting comfortably" on Sunday, according to Scurry-Rosser Independent School District superintendent Rhonda Porter.
"[Bachtel] is resting comfortably, doctors are reducing sedatives slowly and he has not had to undergo any surgical procedures at this time," Porter said. "Continued prayers are appreciated."
ORIGINAL STORY: A popular Scurry-Rosser High School football coach remains sidelined in the intensive care unit Saturday night after hitting his head during Friday night's game.
Assistant coach Marcus "Papa" Bachtel was along the sideline when he was unable to move out of the way of a play headed his direction.
"The whole stadium went silent," said former student Tristan Horton. "It was intense and scary for sure, not your typical mood for a Friday night."
The final 6 minutes of the game between Scurry-Rosser and Malakoff was cancelled as players from both sides dropped to their knees and prayed for the 64-year-old coach as he was taken by helicopter to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas.
After years as a head high school football coach, Bachtel joined the staff of the Scurry-Rosser High School football team where his son is the head coach.
Nearly 300 people gathered at Wildcats Stadium to pray for Bachtel Saturday.
"He is a very special coach," principal Chad Collins said. "Everybody likes Papa Bachtel — every staff member, every student. He is very loved in our community."
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