Davenport football player expected to make full recovery after head injury

A Davenport football player is expected to make a full recovery from a slight skull fracture after being taken by helicopter to a hospital on Friday. Senior wingback Max Mielke was running with the ball when he tried to break a tackle. A second player came from behind and tackled him, causing contact in the back of the helmet, Davenport coach Justin Young said. “I watched film this morning (Saturday) and it was a clean play,” Young said. “He was fighting for extra yards. It was just an unfortunate accident.” Young said Mielke suffered bleeding in the head, but doctors were able to stop it. Mielke was being kept overnight Saturday at Sacred Heart Medical Center for observation, Young said. “They’re anticipating letting him go home Sunday,” Young said. “The prognosis is good. He’s making a speedy recovery.” Davenport and Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) agreed to stop the game when Mielke was flown to the hospital. “Lakeside was real classy and helped us a lot,” Young said. Young said Mielke, one of his team captains, won’t return to play this season. “That’s not even an option,” Young said.