JEFFERSON TWP — A Freeport Middle School student Thursday evening had to be flown by helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital after being knocked unconscious at Knoch High School.

Todd O’Shell, Freeport athletic director, said the 13-year-old, whose name is not being released, was playing in a seventh grade football game against Knoch when he was injured during a play just after 5 p.m.

The boy was attended to on site by athletic trainers. When he came to, trainers determined that he had a head injury.

He was taken to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he underwent tests and spent the night.

O’Shell said precaution was taken in moving the boy to the hospital.

“Obviously, with a head injury, you can’t tell ... they are treated seriously regardless,” O’Shell said. “We take it seriously as did everyone at Knoch.”

O’Shell said it is likely that the boy will be released today from the hospital.

“We’re hoping it’s nothing more than a slight concussion,” he said.