Huntsville City District 2 Councilman Mark Russell was sent to the hospital Friday night after he suffered from a possible heart attack.

Kelly Schrimsher, communications director for city of Huntsville, said Russell was officiating a Madison Academy-McCallie (Tenn.) football game when he collapsed on the field. He was treated by medical personnel for 20 minutes at the scene before he was transported to Huntsville Hospital.

According to Schrimsher, Russell was alert and talking to family members at the hospital. The father of two has served on the council since 2002 and has been elected council president nine times, according to the city's website.

Russell collapsed at the 10:22 mark of the second quarter and was given CPR. Paulette Berryman, Madison Academy photographer and cardiac care nurse at Huntsville Hospital, started chest compressions within seconds to revive Russell.

Berryman is the wife of Madison Academy defensive back coach Mark Berryman.

"Football pales in comparison to trying to save someone's life," Madison Academy head coach Grant Reynolds said. "It happened right in front of us. It was a very scary incident. Fortunately, we had the medical people close by on the sidelines to save his life."

Brett Beaird contributed to this story.