Kansas football player and homecoming king dies after 99-72 win

Spring Hill (Kan.) mourns death of popular star running back Nathan Stiles, who had sustained concussion earlier in season.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Dave Krider
Spring Hill (Kan.) outscored Osawatomie (Kan.), 99-72, in a wild high school football game on Thursday, but the victory was completely overshadowed by the death of standout Spring Hill senior running back Nathan Stiles.

Stiles was hit hard after intercepting a pass in the second quarter and left the game. He already had run for touchdowns of 65 and 18 yards. Spring Hill coach Anthony Orrick told the Miami County Republic that Stiles complained of head pain before he collapsed on the sideline.

He was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City where he died at 4 a.m. Friday, the Republic reported.

"It was just a routine play," Orrick told the newspaper after the game. "I don't think there was anything special. "I think he just hit the ground pretty hard with his head. He came on the sideline and told one of my assistants, 'my head is really hurting.' He sat down on the bench. He then stood up, but his legs went underneath him and collapsed there."

Stiles, who was a straight-A student, had missed several games after suffering a concussion on Oct. 1 against Ottawa – a night that he was crowned homecoming king. He had been cleared to play last week and on Thursday, according to the Olathe News.