Nathan Stiles, a 17-year-old linebacker for Spring Hill, Kan., collapsed on the sidelines just before halftime on Oct. 28. He was flown to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead early Oct. 29.
His father, Ron Stiles, said the cause of death hasn't been released but he mentioned Nathan had suffered a concussion during his team's homecoming game earlier in the month.
The Assistant Executive Director of Kansas State High School Activities Association, Rick Bowden, explained to the public that he wasn't aware that Nathan suffered a concussion during any games. Bowden also stated that there are no rules currently in effect that governs when a player can return to games after being diagnosed with a concussion.
"He had a concussion several weeks ago from football, from that homecoming game," Nathan's father explained. "He had the green light to play, and I don't know exactly what all has happened there. The problem is that he definitely had the trauma."
The father also wanted to make clear that there were no sort of 'malicious hits' during Thursday’s game that could have contributed to Nathan's collapse.
"There was certainly nothing that was done that was bad by any part of any player. I certainly don't want that to be thought," he said. "The last thing I thought we'd be doing is losing my son that night."
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, Nathan's death is the eighth of this year's season among its high schools. There were 11 deaths were reported last year among the 1.1 million students playing in the NFSHSA's programs.
