Eye poke a retribution says coach

An American high school gridiron coach believes a vicious eye poke inflicted by one of his players may have been an act of retribution in a spiteful match.

Minnseota High's Isaac Hennen needed help from the field after he was attacked by Minneapolis North defender Antwan Cobble during a grudge match.

Footage of the incident showed Cobble jamming his hand in between the grill of Hennen's helmet as he lay defenceless on the ground after being tackled.

Despite the brutality of the act, Cobble escaped any penalty after the play as it was missed by officials.

Minnesota High went on to claim the 1A Prep Bowl 35-18.

After the game, North head coach Charles Adams told reporters he deplored the actions of Hennen, revealing his school had been in contact with their counter-parts about the ugly incident.

However, the coach failed to reveal whether Cobble would face any punishment, believing both sides were perpetrators of dubious tactics.

"I don’t teach kids to do that, to poke people in the eye," Adams said according to US outlets.

"I don't accept it or tolerate it.

"(But) my players usually respond to things that are happening.

"It was chippy on both sides … there were a million things that could’ve been caught on the field by either team."