By Associated Press - Thursday, September 26, 2019

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.

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