Mason Flores died on his 16th birthday after suffering a brain injury during a Sweet Home High School football game.
SWEET HOME, Ore. — A Sweet Home High School football player died Monday on his 16th birthday, one week after suffering a severe brain injury during a game, as his family prepared to donate his organs to help other people.
Mason Flores was injured during a junior varsity home football game in late September. His family and local news reports said he suffered a seizure and a brain bleed after the injury and was flown to Portland for emergency treatment. He underwent surgery, but his condition did not improve. KPTV reported that Flores died shortly before 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5.
The case drew widespread attention in Sweet Home as classmates, teammates and community members followed updates on Flores’ condition. His family said doctors worked to treat him but ultimately determined that he would not recover. The family then made plans for organ donation, saying they hoped his organs could give other people a chance to live.
A family friend told KPTV that the donations were expected to help save at least five lives. Specific recipients had not been publicly identified. Flores’ family asked that he be remembered for his love of football, his humor and the happiness he brought to people around him rather than only for the injury that led to his death.
The exact date of Flores’ injury has been reported differently by some outlets. KPTV’s latest reporting said the injury occurred Sept. 28 during a junior varsity home game. Other coverage cited an earlier date. What is consistent across the reports is that Flores suffered a serious head injury during a football game, experienced a seizure and was taken by air to Portland for treatment.
Sweet Home School District Superintendent Terry Martin said the district would continue its scheduled homecoming events with the family’s support. Martin said moving forward with the activities reflected the family’s wish that the community focus on life, joy and togetherness while remembering Flores. The district also made counselors and support staff available to students and employees.
Friends described Flores as an enthusiastic football player with a warm personality. Michael Duran, whose son became close friends with Flores in middle school, told KPTV that the teenager treated people well and had a bright presence. The football program also remembered Flores for his smile and personality in a public tribute following his death.
Support for Flores’ family grew while he was hospitalized. A fundraiser organized by a person identified as his mother’s employer sought help with medical and living expenses. Community members also organized other fundraising efforts as word of his condition spread through Sweet Home.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, local law enforcement agencies and firefighters helped escort Flores’ remains back to Sweet Home. Residents lined the streets as the procession traveled to a local funeral chapel, KPTV reported. A family member later said Flores’ mother was deeply moved by the turnout and the support shown by the community.
Flores’ death came during what would ordinarily have been a celebratory week at Sweet Home High School. Instead, students, coaches and families faced the loss while continuing homecoming events at his family’s request. School officials encouraged students and staff members to support one another and recognized that people may grieve in different ways.
Flores’ family has continued with plans for organ donation, while the Sweet Home community remembers the teenager through school tributes, fundraising efforts and public memorials. Authorities and school officials had not announced additional findings about the circumstances of the injury as of Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated October 7, 2026.