UNION MILLS | A high school football player who had stayed home from school was stabbed earlier after confronting a pair of suspected burglars who had made their way inside his home.

Justin Swanson, 16, of Union Mills, was recovering Thursday from a single deep stab wound to his thigh.

"He's limping but he's fine," his mother, Vickie Swanson, said.

She said her son had stayed home from school Monday due to a migraine headache. He was by himself with both parents at work.

"They assumed our house was empty," Vickie Swanson said.

LaPorte County Sheriff's Department said the teenager was upstairs when he heard noises downstairs and went to investigate.

Justin Swanson told police the intruders were wearing ski masks.

Vickie Swanson said her 6 foot 3 inch tall, 250 pound son struggled with one of the burglars while the other intruder went into the kitchen and grabbed a paring knife.

The knife was driven deep into her son's leg and the intruders fled the residence, she said.

Justin Swanson was taken to LaPorte Hospital and later released.

LaPorte County Sheriff's Chief of Detectives John Boyd said it's not known if the suspects fled on foot or drove off in a vehicle. He said both intruders were wearing dark coats.

Boyd said several detectives have been assigned to the case and, so far, there were no suspects.

Vickie Swanson said the only thing she found missing was a bag containing a small amount of cash and quarters she saves to use on the Indiana Toll Road.