One high school football player in Georgia died after he suffered from a severe brain injury in the middle of a game. Local media outlets reported that Dylan Thomas, a student from Pike County High School, became injured during the game on September 28 night, following which he was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

Nick Burgess, Thomas' uncle, said that his nephew was hit during the second quarter of the game and even though he returned to the field to play, he collapsed on the sidelines later when one of his arm and a leg went numb. The mayor of Williamson, Steve Fry, had said that the teen football player had surgery done to relieve his brain of the swelling, but then he slipped into a coma.

Fry told WAGA-TV that a vigil was held on September 30 at the high school for the student. Thomas' uncle and his school had announced that the football player died that night. By October 1 morning, a fundraiser for the student's medical cost and the lost income that had been started by his uncle had raised about $24,600.

A local Papa John's outlet had also given support by having their own fundraiser on September 30, and the staff also donated all their tips to Thomas' family. Jackson Holmes, Pike's quarterback, responded to the tragic event on Twitter saying: "Rest easy Dylan Thomas, you will forever be in our hearts." A classmate wrote on Instagram: "Rest in Peace to such a wonderful guy. My first love. You were amazing. My brain isn't even processing that you are gone. You will forever be loved dilly poo." 

Thomas' tragic death happened as another football player, Tennessee State's linebacker Christion Abercrombie, is in critical condition at the moment after he suffered from a head injury at the September 29 game against Vanderbilt. Officials from the university have released a statement saying that the football player was being observed since he collapsed on the sidelines.

Tigers coach Rod Reed said he is still unclear how or when Abercrombie, who is a native of Atlanta, got injured before he went to the sideline in the latter part of the second quarter of the 31-27 loss to Vanderbilt. He told The Tennessean: "He came to the sideline and just kind of collapsed there."

After the game came to an end, players of both the teams joined Reed and Derek Mason, the coach of Vanderbilt, for a short prayer for Abercrombie, his family, and the Tigers. Mason said: "Football's what we do, not who we are. I know what it is to be a coach. I know what it is to have a player who's injured. At the end of the day, when serious injuries happen, football becomes secondary."

The Vanderbilt football team has also tweeted about Abercrombie saying: "Our thoughts are with the Abercrombie family, their friends and the entire Tennessee State community during this difficult time."