Funeral set for paralyzed football player

Funeral services are set for a former South suburban high school football player who died more than a decade after he was paralyzed during a game.

Rasul “Rocky” Clark died Thursday at age 27. He was injured when he was tackled during a football game in 2000 while playing for Blue Island’s Eisenhower High School. Clark’s wake will be Friday at a funeral home in Country Club Hills. His funeral will be Saturday morning at New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Robbins. Clark will be buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip.

Clark was a junior running back for Eisenhower’s Cardinals. Doctors determined his neck was broken in two places when he was tackled.

Despite his injury, Clark went on to graduate from high school.