Ky. high school football player dies from brain injury sustained in game

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association reported Monday that a Pulaski County High School football player who sustained a brain injury in a game Friday has died.

“No words can explain, justify or rationalize tragedies such as these,” a KHSAA social media post about the death of Andrew Dodson said. “We only ask for peace and comfort to all around him.”

A campaign called Prayers for Andrew has been spreading across Kentucky since Friday when he was injured.

Alan Dodson said his son Andrew Dodson was running the ball in the Pulaski County varsity football spring Maroon and White game when he was tackled by a teammate.

“It was not a violent hit or helmet-to-helmet. It was a simple, clean tackle,” said Dodson, noting Andrew was wearing a helmet.

“His head hit the turf, and Andrew suffered blunt-force trauma to the brain,” Dodson said Sunday night. “He had a major surgery to relieve the pressure and has never awakened. He has been fight(ing) for his life on total life support.”

A social media post from Immanuel Baptist Church at Somerset said Andrew’s classmates and adults gathered to pray, and sing a couple hymns outside the hospital in the parking garage.

“I know this is the busiest week of the year in the church calendar,” Dodson said in another post, referring to Easter. “However, if you can, would you please have your church intervene for Andrew today? We need God’s power and wisdom. We need a miracle. We need your prayer.”

Nearly 550 people responded online from Crittenden County to London, saying they would pray

“We are heartbroken by this tragedy,” University of Kentucky Football Coach Mark Stoops said after Andrew died Monday.

After Andrew’s death, KHSAA posted, “We know in the hours, days, weeks, months, and years ahead we will continue to remember his fighting spirit and passion for all things Pulaski County, as well as his deeply held beliefs about his time on earth and following.”

“We hold his family and friends close in these times and offer our deepest condolences,” the KHSAA posted.

WKYT, the Herald-Leader’s reporting partner, said Andrew played the tight end and defensive end position for the Maroons in his junior season.

Many people and groups posted tribute to Andrew after his death Monday. A post on Lexington’s Frederick Douglass High School’s Facebook page said, “Our prayers are with the family of Andrew Dodson, Pulaski County Football, and the Maroon family. We lift your entire family and program up.”