By staff and wire reports

SHARON SPRINGS — A Kansas high school football player died after collapsing on the sidelines during a playoff game, according to a school official.
Brian McVay, superintendent and principal of Wallace County schools, confirmed Wednesday that Luke Schemm, a senior at Wallace County High School, died at a Denver, Colo. hospital where he was taken after collapsing during the football game Tuesday night.
Schemm’s father was out-of-state on business and flew into the Denver hospital Tuesday night.
“A beautiful gift from God was taken away from Lisa and I last night,” David Schemm posted on his Facebook page. “Luke Schemm suffered trauma to the brain, causing it to swell and shut off blood flow to the brain. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and reaching out to us. Please continue to reach out to us. It is going to be a very difficult time for us, and we will only be able to make it through with the help of God, family, friends and the community.”
McVay said he didn’t know why Schemm collapsed during the Eight-Man Division I game at Wallace County High in Sharon Springs. He said the senior had just scored a touchdown and an extra point when he collapsed on the sidelines with 2;11 left in the third period. Schemm scored four touchdowns and rushed for 209 yards in a 65-20 Wallace County victory. All-stater Schemm led the Wildcats to the Class 1A-Division 2 state basketball championship in March.
“The team was gathered on the sidelines getting ready to go for the kick,” McVay said. “Before they even left the sideline, he just collapsed. But as far as why, I haven’t had time to track that down.”
Schemm was transported by ambulance to a local hospital then airlifted to the Denver hospital where he died. Sharon Springs is 220 miles east of the Colorado city.
Gary Musselman, Kansas State High School Activities Association executive director, said game officials did not see Schemm sustain any head or neck contact during the game.
He said if Schemm’s death is determined to be football-related, it would be the third in Kansas in 17 years.
“Any death is one too many,” Musselman said. “We just are heartsick any time a youngster prematurely passes because of whatever reason.”
From July through Wednesday there have been 11 reported deaths in high school football in the U.S., according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The center reports that seven of those deaths were directly related to a football trauma and four were indirectly related, meaning other health issues contributed to the death.