Florida high school football player dies after collapsing during game

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — (AP) — A Florida Panhandle high school football player has died after collapsing during a game, officials said.

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Port St. Joe High School wide receiver Chance Gainer collapsed during Friday night’s game at Liberty High School. The 18-year-old senior was rushed to the hospital, but died, Gulf County School Superintendent Jim Norton told WJHG-TV.

Gainer was an honors student and had recently visited Vanderbilt University to discuss attending there, Norton said.

Gainer “had world-class speed, but more importantly, had a world-class personality,” Norton said.

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Friday’s game was canceled after Gainer’s collapse and Port St. Joe’s game next week has also been canceled.

The National Federation of State High School Associations said last week that six high school players had died within the past month, four of them from heart issues and two from being hit.

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