Full Breakdown
Matt Donovan’s Severe Head Injury and Ongoing Medical Care
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
During the third quarter of Mayville State’s homecoming game against Simpson University, quarterback Matt Donovan suffered a head-to-head collision on a rushing play. He collapsed, was attended by medical staff, and was air-lifted to a Fargo intensive-care unit. Surgeons performed emergency brain surgery lasting just over two hours, removing portions of his skull to relieve dangerously high intracranial pressure. Donovan remains in a medically induced coma while doctors monitor his condition.
Background & Context
Donovan, a LaCrescent, Minnesota native, graduated from Kasson-Mantorville High School in 2022, where he was a two-time team captain and amassed more than 2,000 rushing yards and 800 passing yards in his senior season. After brief stints at Bemidji State and Minot State, he joined the NAIA-level Mayville State Komets, leading their triple-option offense as a four-year varsity starter.
Data & Statistics
- Surgery duration: just over two hours.
- Skull removal: portions removed to alleviate pressure.
- Fundraising totals: reports vary—one source cites $82,053 raised, another mentions the campaign “nearing $80,000,” while a third records more than $18,300 as of Sunday morning. The family’s goal is approximately $95,000 to cover lodging, meals, and medical expenses.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayville State confirmed the injury, the life-flight to Fargo, and the craniotomy. The statement noted that Donovan’s eyes responded to light on Sunday, prompting the neurosurgeon to call the outcome “a win.” The school added that he remains in a medically induced coma and is “fighting like crazy,” encouraging continued prayers.
Coach Rocky Larson said the community across North Dakota and the Midwest is rallying around Donovan, emphasizing his resilience and the importance of collective support.
Simpson University expressed sympathy on its X account, stating that the entire Simpson community is praying for Donovan, his family, teammates, and coaches.
Donovan’s sister, Ashley Klar, created a GoFundMe page to assist the family with lodging, meals, and medical costs while they remain in Fargo. The page’s description outlines the injury, the craniotomy, and the family’s day-by-day coping strategy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was a clean hit, a very normal hit for a football game. I thought he got hit 5-6x harder in the game. It wasn’t a vicious hit or anything like that,” — Rocky Larson, head coach
- “You don’t even know what to think. There’s so many emotions other than you’re just praying that he’s okay. With an injury like that, it can go from 0 to 100 real quick. Everyone there is pulling for him,” — Kelby Azure
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fundraising amounts: The GoFundMe page was reported as having raised $82,053 in one account, “nearing $80,000” in another, and “more than $18,300” in a third. The discrepancy reflects differing update times and possibly varying definitions of “raised” versus “pledged.”
- Medical updates: While the neurosurgeon’s comment about “a win” is consistent, the exact timeline of eye-response observations varies between sources that cite “Sunday morning” and those that reference “the night before.” No further clinical details have been disclosed.
What’s Next
Donovan will remain in the intensive-care unit under close neurological observation. His family plans to stay in Fargo for the foreseeable future, continuing to rely on community donations and prayers while awaiting further medical assessments. No specific discharge or follow-up dates have been announced.