Downey High School Football Player Dies Following Collapse At Game

DOWNEY (CBSLA.com) — A Downey High School football player has died nearly two days after collapsing during a game in Lynwood.

A hospital representative for Long Beach Memorial Hospital confirmed to CBS2 that Dodi Soza died.

The 16-year-old junior wide receiver has just scored a touchdown when he collapsed on the field at Lynwood High School just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Soza was transported to St. Francis Medical Center and was then transferred to a special care unit at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.

Reporting for CBS2 outside Downey High School, Jeff Nguyen said there was a growing memorial of white candles and balloons in Soza's memory. (White is Downey High School's team color.)

Students from rival Warren High School showed their support by hanging white balloons and a banner saying "Pray For Dodi" on the Downey school's fence.

The community held a vigil Saturday evening at 7 p.m. The memorial was organized by Soza's junior varsity teammates.

Participants were asked, via social media, to bring white candles or balloons.

Soza's cause of death was not released.

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