High school football player, 16, dies after suffering brain injury during game

A 16-year-old Alabama boy has died after suffering a brain injury while playing a high school football game on Aug. 23.

Dr. Bryan Oliver, headmaster at John T. Morgan Academy in Selma, announced in a Facebook post on the school's page Aug. 24 that Caden Tellier had died.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Caden Tellier has gone to be with his Lord and Savior,” Oliver wrote. “Caden loved the Lord with all his heart and was a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete and most important a Christ follower.

“There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with our whole hearts. We offer our deepest sympathy to the Tellier’s extended family as well.

“I want to thank all the schools and individuals that have reached out during this difficult time. Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.”

Morgan Academy was scheduled to open its football season at home Aug. 23 against Southern Academy. It’s unclear how Tellier sustained his injury, reports WSFA, the NBC affiliate in Montgomery, Alabama.

A day after Tellier was injured and before he had died, Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon released a statement about Tellier.

“We are deeply heartbroken by the tragic injury of Morgan Academy football player Caden Tellier. Caden is in the hospital in critical condition with a brain injury,” he wrote in the statement shared on Facebook.

McLendon also said the AISA stood behind Morgan’s “decision to suspend all school activities this week, giving their community time to come together, reflect and support one another through this heartbreaking time.”

Morgan Academy’s football team is slated to next play Aug. 30 at Wilcox Academy, but it is not clear if the team will play that game as scheduled.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com