PLAISTOW, N.H. — Andy Augusta had no problem with the five doctors about to examine him at a Boston hospital. But nobody was going to ruin his maroon Timberlane Tornadoes football jersey - No. 31.

"He would not let them cut that jersey off," said his father, David Augusta. "So here were all these doctors trying to immobilize him without cutting his shirt."

It was a scary scene on the Timberlane Regional High School football field Saturday night, but fortunately, Andy, 13, was not seriously hurt. The teen was flown by helicopter to a Boston hospital after suffering a concussion.

Although Andy will be sidelined for couple weeks, the fullback should be back on the field by mid-October, his father said last night.

"Thank God," said David Augusta, a Lawrence, Mass., police officer. He and his wife, Christine, a Salem kindergarten teacher, have four children. They live in Sandown.

Andy, an eighth-grader, was groggy and disoriented after a tackle during Saturday night's game. He complained of back and neck pain, had trouble standing up, and was answering questions oddly. Coaches and paramedics wasted no time and immediately called for a medical helicopter.

"He was kind of mumbling to himself," Tornadoes coach Jerry Lovett said.

The chopper touched down on the 20-yard line and shuttled Andy to Massachusetts General Hospital. The Tornadoes were playing Winnacunnet.

Lovett said summoning the helicopter "was more of a precaution than anything."

But, the 28-year coaching veteran noted, "When it comes to injuries, we take them very seriously."

As the helicopter swirled backward up into the air, leaving the high school field, the crowd screamed Andy's name. Teammates then chanted his name twice before resuming play.

At Mass. General, Andy was examined by a team of doctors who diagnosed him with a concussion. He was released at 2 a.m. Sunday, and rested at home the rest of the weekend. The doctors told him to follow up with his primary care physician today, David Augusta said.

He also said the Mass. General doctors were impressed with the equipment Andy was wearing, including a gel-filled helmet recently purchased by the league.

"They said his equipment was top-notch," he said. "Anything less and things could have gone differently."

Both landlines and cell phones in the Augusta household have been ringing off the hook since Saturday night's accident. Everyone wants to know how Andy is doing. Numerous text messages were sent yesterday, David Augusta said.

Lovett said he was relieved to hear Andy was released from the hospital. And yesterday, he updated teammates and parents on Andy's condition.

"It was quite the scare for all of us, but we are all very happy he's going to be OK," Lovett said.

Saturday night's game went into overtime and the Tornadoes beat Winnacunnet 22-14, Lovett said.

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