Published: September 07, 2007 04:24 pm            

Mansfield JV player dies Thursday

MANSFIELD — A 15-year-old junior varsity football player collapsed during a game and died.

Dozie Njeako, a sophomore at Mansfield Summit High School, fell to the ground Thursday night while heading back to the sideline after a play, said Richie Escovedo, a school district spokesman.

Athletic trainers from Summit and their opponent, South Grand Prairie, tried to revive him by administering CPR and using an automated external defibrillator, Escovedo said. Njeako, a 6-foot-2 defensive end, died after being transported to Methodist Mansfield Medical Center.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office has not determined a cause of death.

Principal Donna Grant said Njeako was well-liked by students and teachers and that his unexpected death has hit the campus hard.

"Everyone spoke so glowingly of him," Grant said Friday. "There are a lot of tears today, very upset students and teachers."

Njeako also played freshman basketball last year. His older brother plays on the varsity football team, and his younger brother plays on the freshman team.

Summit and South Grand Prairie officials rescheduled Friday night's varsity game to Saturday.

        

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