Riverside County Mourns Loss Of High School Football Player As Friday Night Lights Begin

As Friday Night Lights get underway in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, the county is mourning the loss of one its high school football players.

A crisis response team was sent Wednesday to Arlington High School in the City of Riverside, where faculty, staff and students were coping with the loss of a 16-year-old athlete who died five days after he collapsed while playing a varsity football game.

Tyler Lewellen died Tuesday night at Riverside Community Hospital, where he had been in the intensive care unit since last Thursday.

"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."

The teen, who played on defense for the Arlington Lions, collapsed following a scrimmage against the Rubidoux Falcons at Rubidoux High School, according to the Riverside Unified School District.

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

RUSD officials dispatched a team composed of psychologists and other grief counselors to meet with the boy's friends, teammates and teachers at Arlington, a school district official said. His death was announced to the the 2,200-student campus prior to the start of classes this 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. He was slated to graduate in 2015. 

The loss comes as Lake Elsinore Unified School District varsity football gets underway. Lakeside hosts Cypress on Aug. 29; on Aug. 30, Temescal Canyon hosts Murrieta Valley, and Elsinore host Rancho Verde. All game times are 7 p.m. --City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.