Tornillo football player in coma after weekend game

A Tornillo High School football player was still in the hospital Thursday after falling ill during a game Friday. Coaches and parents assumed his sudden condition was brought on by a concussion, but it’s turning out to be something much more serious.

Coaches at Tornillo say Brandyn Flores didn’t take any major hits during last Friday’s game, but something was wrong with the senior linebacker. He was complaining of a headache while walking off the field, then began to throw up

“That probably happened within about 10 minutes, 10 to 15 minutes,” said Steven Lee, head football coach at Tornillo High School. “As he was coming off, the way he was throwing up and complaining about his head, we knew his mom was in the stands, so we said to call her up.”

Brandyn was taken from the game versus Clint High School by ambulance to Del Sol Medical Center. His family said he was taken to surgery within minutes of being admitted, with doctors suspecting a hematoma or brain aneurysm

Brandyn, who wears No. 25, usually played baseball for Tornillo but had joined the football team for his senior year as captain. Teammates like John Camacho said that Brandyn acted as the motivational core of the team. Many have gone to visit him in the hospital.

“I couldn’t even… It was hard to recognize him,” John said. “And knowing Brandyn, Brandyn was always so happy and always laughing and making everyone laugh. And just seeing him in that hospital bed, just still… It’s kind of hard to see.”

Brandyn’s father Al Flores said that his son is in critical yet stable condition, and that doctors are still trying to figure out exactly what happened.

Flores said that his son was supposed to be on a flight to Chicago that day, but it was one of hundreds canceled after the terminal was set on fire. Flores also said that the doctor that treated his son was supposed to be in Houston.

“Fifteen minute difference, 10 minute difference, and I might not have my son,” Flores said.

Brandyn’s doctors have said that he has a long road ahead of him, but his father said he will be there for him, speaking to him even if he doesn’t know if Brandyn can hear.

“I do talk to him. ‘Mijo, I love you. I’m here, everything’s going to be fine,'” Flores said. “And he will be. He’s one of God’s warriors, and I know he will be.”

Flores said that doctors are working to bring his son out of a medically-induced coma and to get him breathing on his own and off of a respirator.

Brandyn’s parents and coaches don’t believe his condition was caused by playing football. Meanwhile, three teenage football players in different parts of the country have died in recent weeks from football-related injuries.