MADISON, W.Va. — Across the Boone County school system, students, staff and teachers dressed in the red colors of the Madison Middle School Red Hawks on Monday. The solidarity was a tribute to Cohen Craddock, 13, an eighth-grader at Madison Middle School.

Craddock, number 75 on the Red Hawks team, died Saturday from injuries sustained during a practice session on Friday. Joe Linville is the commentator for the Scott High School football program.

“From what I understand, they were doing drills and he and another player collided. He didn’t immediately lose consciousness. They felt something was wrong, took his helmet off and started asking him questions. He told them he wasn’t hurt, he was just angry,” Linville said.

But the coaches clearly recognized there was a problem and called an ambulance to the practice field. By the time paramedics arrived, young Cohen had collapsed and died in hospital the next day. Linville said Craddock’s situation came to everyone’s minds during a practice game between the Scott High School team and Philip Barbour.

“As the afternoon went on, you just realized it didn’t sound good and when the competition was over, they announced Cohen Craddock’s fate,” he said.

Matt Riggs, Boone County School Superintendent, issued the following statement:

“The entire Boone County Schools community begins to mourn the loss of Cohen Craddock, an eighth-grader at Madison Middle School. As a Redhawk, Cohen was loved by his classmates, his teachers, his principals, and the entire Madison Middle School staff. Cohen was also a member of the Red Hawks football team. Beginning Monday, numerous additional support measures will be in place as our MMS students, student-athletes, faculty, and staff mourn this tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cohen’s family, friends, teammates, classmates, and the entire MMS staff. While our thoughts and prayers are with Cohen’s family, we ask the community to do the same so that his family can find healing, comfort, protection, and strength.”

The West Virginia SSAC also sent a statement of condolences to the Madison Middle School team and community.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Cohen Craddock. Our thoughts are with Cohen’s family, friends and the entire community during this incredibly difficult time. The WVSSAC extends its condolences to the Craddock family and the Madison community as they process this difficult loss.”

Madison Middle School Principal Shaun Elkins asked other schools to show their support by wearing red clothing to school on Monday in honor of Cohen. Preparations for the young man’s funeral were ongoing at the time of this report.

The last time a player died on a football field in West Virginia was in 2019, when Alex Miller of Roane County High School in Clay County died after being hit by a car and running off the field.

The Roane County team immediately posted their condolences on social media, as did Midland Trail High School, which lost a player in an off-field incident in 2023.