Sweet Home High School Football Player Mason Flores Dies After Game Injury

Sweet Home High School football player Mason Flores died Monday at age 16 after suffering a severe head injury and brain bleed during a junior varsity game on Sept. 28, 2026.

Mason Flores Dies After Football Head Injury

Mason Flores sustained a hit to the head during the Sept. 28 junior varsity contest at Sweet Home High School. According to kptv.com, he suffered a seizure on the field following the impact. Medical staff initially transported him by ambulance to a hospital in Lebanon, Oregon. After a computed tomography scan revealed a brain bleed, medical teams life-flighted him to a Portland-area hospital for specialized surgical intervention. Doctors attempted various treatments over the following days, but his condition did not improve. He passed away on Monday morning shortly before 10 a.m., which coincided with his 16th birthday.

Organ Donations Save Lives as GoFundMe Grows

Following unsuccessful medical efforts in Portland, Flores’s family chose to proceed with organ donation. Kptv.com reported that the donations were projected to save at least five other lives. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Burgin to assist with medical and living expenses surpassed $57,000 by Monday.

District Proceeds with Homecoming Events per Family Request

Sweet Home School District Superintendent Terry Martin released a video statement addressing the student’s death. Martin noted that Flores brought warmth, humor, and energy to the school community. At the specific request of Mason’s mother, the district decided to proceed with scheduled homecoming events and ceremonies on Friday. Martin described this decision as a reflection of the family’s desire to celebrate life, joy, and community. The Sweet Home football team will play their scheduled homecoming game this week. Counselors and support staff have been deployed across district facilities to provide assistance to students and staff members.

Available Support Services

Local resources remain available for individuals affected by the tragedy. Individuals seeking assistance can contact Linn County Crisis Services at 541-967-3866 or 800-307-7468 (pressing 1), Linn County Mental Health at 541-367-3888 or 800-735-2900, or the YouthLine by calling 877-968-8491 or texting teen2teen to 839863.