CASTINE, Maine (AP) — A referee who was hit in the face by a cannon blast during a Maine Maritime Academy football game is recovering from his injuries.
The referee was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Saturday.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department told WCSH-TV that an academy alumnus brought the cannon to the game in Castine. The alumnus reportedly loaded the cannon with black powder and a substance that had been made into a wad.
It is tradition for a cannon to be fired with a blank shotgun shell when the academy scores.
The school released a statement following the incident reading in part, “The Academy’s president has directed that these devices will no longer be permitted on campus for future events.”
The homecoming game continued with Maine picking up the extra point but they wound up losing to Massachusetts Maritime Academy 42-21.
The Sheriff’s Department said they will be turning over the findings of their investigation to the district attorney pending any criminal charges.
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