Vegas youth football player dead after collapsing on field

LAS VEGAS --Authorities in Las Vegas are investigating the sudden death of a 14-year-old lineman who collapsed at halftime of a National Youth Sports football game.

The Clark County coroner's office said Wednesday that it could take several weeks to obtain results of tests following an autopsy of Issaiah Abrego.

Las Vegas Green Machine coach Kevin Walker tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal the eighth-grader showed no signs of illness before falling unconscious as he walked toward the end zone.

Walker says CPR was performed, but Abrego never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead at University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

The second half of the game wasn't played.

The boy's father, German Abrego, tells the Review-Journal he doesn't think his son's death was football-related.

Maria Abrego described her 5-foot-9 grandson to CBS affiliate KLAS-TV as a gentle giant who was respectful, kind and loving.

"He was special, in every aspect," she said.

Abrego said this time in her grandson's life was supposed to be one of the happiest times of their lives. After his mother had suffered three miscarriages, Issaiah was finally able to become the big brother he always wanted to be.

Abrego told KLAS-TV her grandson was over the moon with the family's newest member.

"He was always very attentive," she said.

A team statement directed supporters to a GoFundMe page for the family.