Ridge Barden, a
Birdlebough (Phoenix, N.Y.) football player, was injured during a game in
Homer (N.Y.) on Friday night and later died, Phoenix head coach Jeff Charles confirmed.
Birldebough Superintendent Judy Belfield said he sustained a head injury during the third quarter of the game and was taken from the field by by paramedics after complaining of a severe headache and collapsing while trying to stand up.
"The coaches and trainers went over," Belfield told The Post-Standard. "He was talking. He rolled on his back by himself."
Barden was initially treated at a local hospital and was in an ambulance en route to a Syracuse hospital when his condition deteriorated.
Birdlebough players and coaches did not learn of the severity of his injuries until after Homer's 27-6 victory. Charles went to the hospital immediately after the game and learned the player had died.
"It just one of those freak things," Belfield said. "The Homer players have to be feeling just as much sadness."
The team was gathering Saturday morning at the high school, and Belfield said counseling would be available.
A statement from Belfield on the district website read in part: "This is a devastating loss for our community. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family, players and coaches."
Barden's father
issued a statement to NewsChannel 9 on Saturday morning.
"I have no words right now, my world has been devastated. But I want to say thank you to all of you that have written me and are sending your prayers to me. October 14th will go down as the worst day of my life," he said.
"I don't know what I'm going to do without you Ridge, I love you so much, and cannot even grasp that you are not here."
Barden's death is believed to be the third death this season related to injuries sustained on the field.
Earlier this week Ryan Smith, a JV player at
Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.), died unexpectedly after breaking his leg during a practice.
In September,
D'Iberville (Miss.) fullback
Latrell Dunbar passed away shortly after collapsing in the second half of the team's game against Gautier.
At least six other football deaths occurred in the preseason, most of those related to a heat wave that struck the South.
John Schiano, who has written about high school sports in western
and central New York for more than 25 years, covers New York for
MaxPreps. He may be reached at john.schiano@maxpreps.com.