Downey High student, 16, dies after on-field collapse

DOWNEY -- Dodi Soza, the Downey High School junior who collapsed during a football game in Lynwood on Thursday, has died.

He was 16.

Soza passed away at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach with family by his side.

"Losing a child is one of the saddest things I can imagine as a parent," Mayor Mario Guerra said in a statement. "Dodi was one of our own. At times like these our community comes together and we will pray for him and his family."

Soza, a running back, collapsed after scoring a touchdown against Lynwood High School, sources told the Patriot.

L.A. County firefighters were called to the school at 3:24 p.m. and transported him to St. Francis Medical Center. He was transferred to Miller Children's Hospital on Friday.

A cause of death has not been publicly released.

Counselors and psychologists were made available at Downey High on Friday for students and staff.

Students from rival Warren High showed their support by hanging white balloons on the Downey campus and hanging a banner that read "Pray for Dodi."