PANAMA CITY, Fla. — A Florida Panhandle high school football player has died after collapsing during a game, officials said.
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 taken to the hospital, but died, Gulf County School Superintendent Jim Norton said WJHG-TV.
Gainer was an honor roll 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.
Friday’s game was canceled after Gainer’s collapse and Port St. Joe’s match next week has also been cancelled.
The National Federation of State High School Associations said last week that six high schools player had died in the past month, four of them from heart problems and two from being affected.