Florida high school cornerback dies at 18 after collapsing midgame

The Port St. Joe High School community in Florida is mourning 18-year-old Chance Gainer, a senior football player who died during a game against Liberty County High School on Friday. Gainer, playing as a cornerback, collapsed suddenly just before halftime in an away game.

Despite immediate efforts by coaches and medical personnel, he was unresponsive when EMTs arrived on the scene. Though they were able to restore his pulse, Gainer was rushed to a hospital in Blountstown, Florida, where he was later pronounced dead.

Tim Davis, the athletic director and assistant principal at Liberty County High School, described the incident as happening without warning.

"He just went to the ground suddenly," Davis said.

Gulf District Schools Superintendent Jim Norton expressed the community's profound grief, referring to Gainer as "a remarkable athlete."

"He was a remarkable athlete, a beloved teammate, and an overall exceptional young man who loved Jesus," Norton said in a statement. "Chance was quiet but exuded captivating warmth and genuineness that drew people to him."

Port St. Joe High School Principal Sissy Godwin said:

"You may not have heard Chance in the crowd, but you could see his smile from across the room, but his smile was unmistakable."

In addition to his football talent, Gainer was an outstanding student, maintaining an impressive GPA above 4.0. He had recently toured Vanderbilt University to explore potential college opportunities. Norton described him as academically prepared for the challenge.

“Academically, he had the grades,” Norton said. “He was excited to death about the possibility of going to Vanderbilt for the educational opportunity that it would have afforded him.”

Following this heartbreaking event, Port St. Joe High School offered grief support to students and community members, opening its doors the next day for counseling. The school has also postponed its upcoming football game to allow for mourning.

Tragic death of Florida high school football player adds to an alarming trend

Chance Gainer's death has devastated the close-knit community of Port St. Joe, a small beachside town in Florida with about 500 students at its high school. According to Gulf District Schools Superintendent Jim Norton, the community gathered at the school after the tragedy to offer support to Gainer’s grieving family.

“School staff and friends, and community clergy gathered at Port St. Joe High School following the tragedy just to be together and to love on the family who joined them as soon as they returned to town,” Norton said in a statement.

Gainer’s death in Florida adds to a troubling statistic. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, seven high school athletes have died in recent weeks, four from heart conditions and two from collisions. This includes three football players, such as Alabama’s Semaj Wilkins and 16-year-old Caden Tellier, who both died following medical emergencies during practice.

Youth football injuries declined from 2013 to 2019 but plateaued in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns and have risen again since 2021, per the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's latest data.