Shadow Creek HS football player dies after 'health-related complications' during game

PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- Family, friends and teammates are mourning the sudden loss of a Shadow Creek High School football player.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office identified the deceased player as 17-year-old Chase Lightfoot. An autopsy revealed he died of a cardiovascular problem.

Friday night, Shadow Creek traveled to San Antonio to compete on the gridiron against St. Mary's Hall. According to Alvin ISD, during the second half of the game, an 11th grade student suffered "health-related complications." Athletic trainers and other doctors who were attending the game provided medical attention on the sidelines.

"He came off the field, fell on the ground. I was in shock. Couldn't do anything," his friend and teammate Damien Jackson said.

Lightfoot was transported to a local San Antonio hospital, where he died early Saturday morning.

Friends and classmates gathered at Shadow Creek High School Saturday evening to comfort one another.

"It's just really hard to accept that he's gone, but things happen and he's in a better place now, so that's all that matters. He will live in our hearts forever," friend Olivia Brown said.

They prayed together in the parking lot and arranged candles in the shape of Chase's football number, 65.

"Before the game started, we was on the field and he was talking to me like. 'You my brother, right?' I was like, 'Yeah,'" Jackson said.

"You wouldn't hear nothing bad about him, every time you hear the name Chase it was always something positive. He helped this person, he did good on this," his friend Avery Hunter said.

"As educators, there is nothing we will deal with more difficult than the loss of a child. This will be a difficult week for our campus. It will also be a time for us to pull together and show support for the young man's family as well as those closest to him. Counselors from the district's crisis response team will be at our campus on Monday morning, and as long as they are needed to provide support to our students and staff," said Shadow Creek High School Principal Kelly Hestand in a statement.

Alvin ISD Superintendent Buck Gilrease shared his condolences.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of one of our students. This is a scenario you pray will never impact your students or community. I can't imagine the heartbreak experienced by the young man's family," Gilrease said in a statement. "We want them to know that Alvin ISD will do anything we can to provide support and care during this extremely difficult time."