CORVALLIS — Bend’s Joel Skotte, a reserve middle linebacker for Oregon State, suffered a concussion Friday night on the opening kickoff of the Beavers’ Pac-12 football game against USC.

Skotte, a sophomore and a former Mountain View High School standout, was blocking on OSU’s kickoff return team when he met a USC defender in a helmet-to-helmet collision.

Skotte was down and motionless at the 20-yard line for several minutes while Oregon State medical personnel attended to him. He eventually sat up and walked off the field with help.

“Those moments are always scary for everybody: our team, their team, for sure,” said Beavers head coach Mike Riley.

OSU medical staff ran Skotte through a series of tests on the sideline, where reportedly he was diagnosed with a concussion.

He did not return to the game, but afterward, Riley said Skotte appeared to be showing promising signs.

“I’ve heard he is alert and talking,” Riley said. “Without knowing anything else, I am sure he has a pretty good concussion.”