Alto Yellowjackets player collapsed, airlifted to hospital

An Alto football player has collapsed on the field during the game between the Alto Yellowjackets and the Carlisle Indians.

The player reportedly told teammates he was dizzy during a huddle. He was taken from Alto, which is a few 140 miles southeast of Dallas, to a hospital in Tyler by helicopter, USA TODAY reported.

With less than a minute to go in the first half, Matthews, a junior, suffered from a seizure. He was a junior and a member of the Yellow Jacket Varsity Football team. The witness did not know whether Matthews was on the field for the touchdown that preceded the kickoff.

Early Saturday afternoon he was listed in critical condition after being airlifted to a hospital in Tyler, Texas. A cause of death has not yet been determined. A vigil was held for him Saturday. “He was a great kid in the classroom, unbelievable athlete, but more importantly just a great, great kid”. Four were injured on the field and one died from what doctors believe is a congenital heart defect.

Matthews is the sixth high school football player to die since September.