A Florida high school football player with college football aspirations died after he collapsed during a Friday night football game. Chance Gainer was a senior, who played cornerback, at Port St. Joe High School. He was 18. The small bayfront town of Port St. Joe is on the Florida panhandle, and is about 45 minutes southeast of Panama City.

The cornerback was at an away game at Liberty County High School when he collapsed on the field right before halftime, Gulf District Schools Superintendent Jim Norton told CNN on Saturday.

“He is an exceptional young man that you can make a hero out of,” Norton said. “I would call Chance a friend.”

Gainer died at a local hospital, leaving behind his parents and siblings. His cause of death has not been released yet.

Norton said Gainer took a water break and was going back to a defensive huddle when he collapsed into unconsciousness. Norton is not aware if Gainer had any medical conditions.

Earlier in the game, Gainer scored two touchdowns. His team won the game that night.

The small community of Port St. Joe is shaken up by Gainer’s death. The high school has roughly 500 students and this is a close knit community.

“School staff and friends, and community clergy gathered at Port St. Joe High School following the tragedy just to be together and to love on the family who joined them as soon as they returned to town,” Norton said in a statement per CNN.

Norton told CNN Gainer recently visited Vanderbilt University in Nashville and hoped to play football there.

“Academically, he had the grades,” Norton said. “He was excited to death about the possibility of going to Vanderbilt for the educational opportunity that it would have afforded him.” He had a 4.0 Grade Point Average.

The Florida High School Athletic Association posted a tribute to Gainer on X.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the deceased athlete’s family. So far, $63,000 has been raised out of the $75,000 goal. The GoFundMe states:

“Chance Gainer, a Senior at Port St. Joe High School tragically passed away Friday Night (September 6th) after collapsing on the football field. Chance was not only a star athlete but a well loved classmate. You may not hear him, but you could see his smile from across the room. A team, a school, a community and most importantly, a family is truly devastated by the loss of Chance. This is more than a fundraiser; it is a community effort to support one of our own in a time of need. Your involvement not only provides financial support but also shows a heartwarming community spirit that we value so much. Please keep the Gainer family and entire Port St. Joe community in your thoughts and prayers.”

Unfortunately, the number of children sustaining injuries on the field has increased in recent years. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, six high school athletes have died in the past month, with four due to heart conditions and two from physical impacts, as reported by The Associated Press. The recent death of Gainer brings that total to seven. Among these fatalities, at least three were high school football players in the US, as previously noted by CNN.

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