WEST ORANGE, Texas – West Orange-Stark football player Reggie Garrett died Friday after he collapsed on the sideline during a high school football game at Dan R. Hooks Stadium.
Garrett appeared unresponsive as medics carted him off the field following his collapse midway through the second quarter. Medics loaded Garrett into an ambulance and the game continued to its conclusion, a 27-6 victory for WO-S against Jasper.
Garrett was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Baptist-Orange at 9:30 p.m. Friday night, according to hospital spokeswoman Mary Poole.
Garrett arrived at the emergency room at 8:30 p.m. Poole said an autopsy has been ordered and the death is being investigated.
WO-S coach Dan Hooks said Garrett appeared to experience a seizure. Hooks said Garrett’s mother said Garrett had suffered a seizure “maybe three years ago,” said Hooks, who credited Garrett as a much-improved team leader.
A 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior quarterback, Garrett had just thrown his second touchdown pass of the game and trotted to the sideline. He collapsed after an extra point gave WO-S a 21-0 lead.
“I saw him come off the field, and he was kind of, ‘Yay, good shot.’ He was happy,” Hooks said. “That was all. There wasn’t any major reaction.”
WO-S assistant coach Cornel Thompson said players tapped his shoulder and pointed to Garrett after he got to the sideline.
“Kids tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Coach, Reggie,’” Thompson said. “I turned around and seen him on his knees and then moved him on his side. They thought he was having a seizure.”
Several WO-S players dropped to one knee as medics tended to Garrett. Other players put their arms around each other as the stadium fell silent. Medics slowly removed Garrett shoulder pads and jersey top as he lay motionless on his side.
