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High school football player in Alabama dies after brain injury during game

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: NFL football on the sidelines during a football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills on November 30, 2014 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeated Cleveland 26-10. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Alabama High School quarterback Caden Tellier, 16, died from complications of a traumatic brain injury during a game between Morgan Academy and Southern Academy on Friday night. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

An Alabama high school football player died from complications from a brain injury sustained during a game between John T. Morgan Academy and Southern Academy in Selma on Friday night.

Junior quarterback Caden Tellier, 16, was injured in a tackle in the third quarter. He was flown to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he died on Saturday.

Further details of the incident have not yet been released, but Michael McLendon, executive director of the Alabama Independent School Association, told CNN that reports indicated Tellier likely suffered a brain hematoma when he landed on the field during a routine tackle.

“Anyone who knows Caden knows kindness, generosity and love, and true to his nature, he gives of himself once again,” the Tellier family said in a statement via ABC News. “His way of life touched many lives, and now, through his passing, lives will be saved.”

McLendon added that Morgan Academy has canceled all classes and activities this week “to give their community time to come together, reflect and support one another during this heartbreaking time.” This includes the game scheduled for Friday at Wilcox Academy.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover Tellier's funeral expenses and has already raised more than $75,000 of the $100,000 goal, according to NBC News. Morgan Academy principal Dr. Bryan Oliver confirmed that Tellier was an organ donor.

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