Vigil Held For Fallen Miramar HS Football Player

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – A candlelight vigil was held Friday night for a Miramar High School football player who collapsed during practice and later died.

Dozens gathered at the school to remember their friend, classmate and teammate.

Offensive lineman Isaiah Laurencin performing a football conditioning drill at Miramar High Tuesday evening when he began to feel ill, according to Broward Schools public information officer Nadine Drew.

Laurencin was sidelined for the greater part of the session and collapsed when the session was over and everyone was preparing to leave.

He was taken to Memorial West where he died Wednesday at 1:40 a.m. Doctors from Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital came to see Laurencin at Memorial West.

Tijuan Bennett, 16, has known Isaiah since middle school. He can't believe that his friend is gone.

Holding back tears, Bennett said, "it did happen I just have to kind of live with it that he passed away."

Isaiah Laurencin's friends say he loved playing football and that he had several scholarships and a dream to someday become an NFL player.

"We do dearly miss him we wish he could come back to be with us," said Bennett.

The football team stood together in their uniform. They prayed and signed a large banner in Isaiah's memory. Students also brought flowers, teddy bears and cards with words of comfort for the family.

Jessica Moore, 16, remembers giving Isaiah a hug before the day he died. She said she want to keep Isaiah's memory alive.

"I just want to send our condolence out to them. Isaiah was a great person. He was a funny dude. He made everyone laugh. He never got mad at anyone and he would just always there for you," said Moore.

Isaiah's family said Isaiah had no health problems. It will take 90 days for autopsy report to be completed.

A viewing is scheduled for Friday, August 5th. The church where Isaiah was a member will hold a memorial on August 6th.