High School Football Player Collapses, Dies On Field

[mary]

Victim Dies While Practicing For Homecoming Game

POSTED: 10:36 a.m. CDT October 16, 2003
UPDATED: 4:06 p.m. CDT October 16, 2003

FORT WORTH, Texas -- An Everman High School football player collapsed and died during a routine training run Thursday morning, a day before homecoming.

Craig Boatwright was running with coach Erik McGuffin around the track at the school when the senior collapsed about 7:25 a.m., superintendent Dan Powell said.


As McGuffin tried to resuscitate the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Boatwright, a passerby called 911.

Boatwright, who planned to play at nearby TCU next year, was pronounced dead at about 8:15 a.m. after being taken by ambulance to Hughley Medical Center.

A cause of death was unavailable.

"There's nothing in his history or among his friends' knowledge that would have suggested to him or anyone else that he might have had such difficulties," Powell said. "Everyone here at the school feels heartshaken at this tragedy."

Powell said after consulting with players and coaches, it was decided they would still play against Venus High School on Friday night.

However, homecoming festivities will be postponed until Everman's next home game, Oct. 31.

Counselors and local ministers were being made available to console teachers, coaches and students.

"We've had tremendous community support from ministers and others who have lent their healing hearts to those who are in pain this morning," Powell said.

The Bulldogs (4-2) are two-time defending 3A state champions. During the school's victory in the state 3A championship game last year, another Everman player suffered a paralyzing injury.

The incident comes nearly one year after former senior defensive back Corey Fulbright suffered an injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down while blocking a pass in the first quarter of a championship game against Burnet High School at the Alamodome in December 2002.

[LRB]

Tragic and sad.

[Drbio]

God Bless his friends, family and classmates. Such a tragic loss.

[Murphy3]

That's horrible. Sometimes things like this just happen. I had a friend that died while going on his daily run a few years back... just jogging 2-3 miles, nothing too extreme whatsoever.