High school football player was found dead hours before his team was to play in the state championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
A high school football player was found dead a day before his team was scheduled to play in a state championship game at the Falcons' Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The player was named by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution as Manchester High School sophomore Brandon Smith, citing a letter from Meriwether Schools.
“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the tragic and untimely death of one of our student-athletes, Brandon Smith,” the letter said.
“Manchester High School's celebration of playing for the Georgia 1-A State Football Championship has unfortunately turned into something that none of us could have fathomed.”
Smith was reported missing on Saturday.
Brandon Smith sees an undated photo lifting weights. The teen has been pronounced dead.
Smith was scheduled to play with his team in the Georgia 1-A State Football Championship
He was 17 years old.
His cause of death has not been confirmed.
Manchester High faces Bowdon Monday night in the Class A Division II final.
As noted by the AJC, it is the school's first championship game since 1997.