The Cedar Rapids Prairie football team suffered two significant injuries during its 14-0 loss to Xavier last Friday.

Demetrius Harper suffered a fractured collarbone on the opening kickoff and will be sidelined for eight weeks, which means he'll probably miss the rest of the season.

Casey Becker suffered a concussion during the first half and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Harper, a 6-foot, 176-pound junior, was Prairie's top offensive threat as a speedy flankerback, equally dangerous as a runner and receiver. He scored two touchdowns in the season opener against Washington on a 74-yard run and a 32-yard pass. He finished that game with 123 yards rushing and 63 yards receiving.

He also returns kickoffs for the Hawks and was hurt on the very first play at Xavier. "He ended up playiing one or two series, but he has a fractured collarbone and is out eight weeks," Prairie Coach Mike Morrissey reported Wednesday.

Becker, also a junior, is a linebacker and center for the Hawks. Morrissey said he suffered the concussion in the middle of the second quarter against the Saints.

"He came off to the side and before we were going out on offense told me he couldn't see out of his right eye," Morrissey said. "We made sure to get him to the trainer and by halftime he was starting to feel some pain in his neck as well.

"When we came back out at halftime he was being put on a stretcher to be taken to the hospital."

Morrissey, other members of the coaching staff and several players visited Becker in the hospital after the game. "By that time he was feeling much better and the doctors informed us that he was OK," Morrissey said.

"Casey is a really, really tough young man both mentally and physically," Morrissey said. "He was a captain for us this last week and we will miss him these next two weeks while he gets better."

Prairie hosts top-ranked Cedar Falls this Friday night.

"Unfortunately we have been hit by some injuries, but the young men who filled in last Friday did a great job," Morrissey said. "We were extremely proud of our kids' effort and despite the loss, I felt like we took a step forward from week one."

Morrissey had a long, tough weekend while dealing with injuries to his current players and a former player. He spent Saturday night at the University of Iowa hospital with injured UI tailback Mika'il McCall, who played for Morrissey at Thornridge (Ill.) High School last season. McCall broke his ankle last Saturday.

"I would say if I don't have to go back to the hospital until late October/early November for the birth of our second daughter I will be an extremely happy man," Morrissey remarked.