During North Carolina's 30-27 double overtime victory over Tennessee in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, the Tar Heels' defensive end Donte Paige-Moss has his helmet knocked off but continues to pursue Tennessee QB Tyler Bray. 

As his teammate, DE Quinton Coples comes around the side of the pocket to chase down Bray, Paige-Moss is thrusted head first into the helmet of Coples. 

Paige-Moss is clearly seen bouncing off Coples, face-first into his helmet without protection. The defensive end was down for several minutes in obvious agony, and game cameras captured the large welt that had begun to grow on Paige-Moss' forehead. He also suffered damage to his chin and had to be removed from the game.

Remarkably, after staggering off the field bloodied and dazed, Paige-Moss received care on the sideline and returned to the game just a few plays later. 

The blow comes at a time when there is an outcry in football, although mostly in the NFL, over the use of helmets as weapons more than protection. However, watching this video, you can't help but wonder why anyone would want to play without helmets. The shot the lineman takes from his teammate could have been much worse had Coples NOT been wearing his helmet. 

In fact, it's Coples' helmet that kept Paige-Moss from more serious injury, and saved Coples from going down with him. The helmet displaced the majority of the impact, spreading it across Paige-Moss' face to minimize damage. The hit was certainly gruesome, but Paige-Moss should recover quickly, whether he can hold his head up straight today is another story.