A South Whidbey High School player badly injured in a junior varsity football game in Sultan Monday night is awake and on the mend after undergoing surgery.

Kiyoshi Jones, a 163-pound sophomore, sustained a serious head injury while playing in a scheduled league game. According to South Whidbey High School Principal Mike Johnson, Jones was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he underwent surgery.

Johnson and Jones’ family stated Tuesday that Jones was conscious as of that afternoon, in satisfactory condition and under the continued care of Harborview staff. Students at the school were updated during the day on Jones’ condition. Johnson said he and the school’s students were relieved to hear good news.

“We’re excited about the fact that Kiyoshi is doing fine,” he said.

Jones sustained his injury shortly after scoring his first high school football touchdown though, in a written statement from his family, he “doesn’t remember how he was hit or when; he only remembers the touchdown.”

The family acknowledged the “inherently dangerous” nature of the sport of football and stated that no “ill will” is felt toward players involved in the play that injured Jones.

Principal Johnson said students at the high school have begun putting together “get well” cards for Jones, to be delivered to Harborview as soon as possible.

Coaches with the Falcon football team were in contact with the hospital throughout the night to stay informed of Jones’ condition. The hospital gave out no information as to the nature of the surgery.