Ryne Dougherty was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. last night at Hackensack University Medical Center, according to hospital spokeswoman Nancy Radwin.
Dougherty, a junior linebacker, had suffered a brain hemorrhage during a game against Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey on Monday night.
Montclair High School officials did not comment.
A school official told Eyewitness News, Dougherty had suffered a recent concussion, but was cleared by a doctor to resume playing after having a Cat Scan and visiting a Neurologist.
He was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage and underwent immediate surgery.
"This is a tragedy for our community, and we stand behind Ryne and his family," Dr. Alvarez said Wednesday.
Student Assistance Counselors (SACs) and on-call psychologists will be on campus for students and staff members on Wednesday. The counselors will be available on a drop-in basis in the library, cafeteria and unit offices during school hours.
"We are providing guidance to the entire school community, with special attention to the football players and coaches and to the Civics and Government Institute, of which Ryne is a member," Alvarez said.
John Porcelli, Assistant Principal of Athletics and Student Activities, stated today that the incident did not seem to have been caused by Dougherty's or other players' actions or by a lack of safety precautions during the game.
"Our athletes' safety is always paramount. We want them to know that although accidents can occur in any game, every precaution will always be taken by our coaching staff and that of our opposing teams," Porcelli said. "By all accounts, that was certainly the case yesterday. There were no reports of unsafe play or of fair game rules not being observed."
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WEB PRODUCED BY: Scott Curkin
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