A young high school football star has tragically died after suffering a fatal head injury in a scrimmage last week.
Andrew Dodson, a high school varsity football player, went down with a brain injury during a routine tackle in an intrasquad practice. The young tight end and defensive end was finishing his junior year at Pulaski County High School in Somerset, Kentucky.
His father, Alan Dodson, insisted his son was running the ball in the Pulaski County varsity spring Maroon and White game on Friday. He was tackled by a team-mate and it appeared to be a fairly standard tackle, but the way Dodson hit the ground was alarming.
“It was not a violent hit or helmet-to-helmet,” his father told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “It was a simple, clean tackle. His head hit the turf, and Andrew suffered blunt-force trauma to the brain.”
Alan noted his son was wearing a helmet during the incident, before adding: “He had a major surgery to relieve the pressure and has never awakened. He has been fighting for his life on total life support.”
On Monday, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association confirmed the junior had passed away. Their statement was circulated on social media as friends, family and team-mates of Dodson mourned the loss.
“KHSAA is a family of its member schools, their administrators, coaches, teachers and fans. But most importantly and as the primary focus, the student-athletes. Andrew Dodson was a member of this family,” the statement read. in addition. “Today, we all mourn with his family, friends, teammates and the entire KHSAA family, the loss of this young man.
“No words can explain, justify or rationalise tragedies such as these. We only ask for peace and comfort to all around him.”
The University of Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops also shared his condolences in the wake of Dodson's death. He took to social media to express sorrow over the student’s passing, writing: “Our sympathies and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Andrew Dodson, a member of the Pulaski County football team. We are heartbroken by this tragedy and are deeply sorry for your loss.”
