Community Remembering High School Football Player Who Died This Week

As high school football gets underway in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, faculty, staff and students at Riverside's Arlington High School will pay homage Sunday to a 16-year-old who died after participating in a varsity scrimmage game.

Tyler Lewellen died Tuesday at Riverside Community Hospital, where he had lain unconscious, in intensive care, since being injured five days earlier.

"Tyler was a wonderful young man with a bright future ahead of him and everything to look forward to," said Arlington High Principal Antonio Garcia. "We are so saddened that he was suddenly taken from us. Arlington appreciates our community's support as we grieve the loss of one of our own."

Tyler, who played on defense for Arlington football, collapsed during a scrimmage against Rubidoux at Rubidoux High School, according to the Riverside Unified School District.

The cause of death has not been disclosed. But spectators said the youth had been on the field and had just come off a tackle when he returned to the sidelines and fell unconscious.

On Wednesday, RUSD officials dispatched a Crisis Response Team, composed of psychologists and other grief counselors, to meet with Tyler's friends, teammates and teachers at Arlington.

Officials announced the teenager's death to the the 2,200-student campus before the start of classes Wednesday morning.

RUSD Superintendent Rick Miller posted a brief statement on the district's Facebook page, saying it was a "hard day" for everyone.

According to Garcia, Tyler was taking advanced courses in preparation for college entrance exams.

A private memorial service was held earlier for the 16-year-old, according to a school district official.--City News Service