Jersey Shore player succumbs from head trauma after collapse on field
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Football players and fans across Pennsylvania are in mourning following the death of 17-year-old Jersey Shore senior Max Engel.
Engel, who collapsed on the field Sept. 8 game against Selinsgrove, died Friday. He was rushed to Geisinger Medical Centre where he was diagnosed with a severe head injury and placed in the intensive care unit. His condition deteriorated throughout the week.
Montour County coroner Scott Lynn determined the cause of death as an intracranial hemorrhage resulting from blunt force head trauma.
Students and fans across the state honored Engel by wearing orange throughout the week and at their weekend games. Wyomissing players wore orange tape around their wrists, and the Spartans huddled with players from Berks Catholic in a joint prayer after Saturday’s “Backyard Brawl.”
Jersey Shore and Selinsgrove were tied 21-21 on Sept. 8 when a timeout was called with 11 seconds remaining. Engle collapsed as the teams returned to the field and play was suspended.
The Bulldogs’ home game against Shikellamy, scheduled for Friday, was postponed until Monday.
“Max was a warrior on the football field and fought hard to earn a place amongst his brothers in orange,” reads a statement posted on Facebook by Engel’s family. “Above all, was his loyalty to his teammates. We are thinking of them during this time and are also praying for all those who have been affected by this tragedy.
“Max has been fighting hard throughout this week, but he needed to move on to fulfill a greater purpose. Through his life, he has tried to bring people together. We feel he has been bringing people together during this time of uncertainty. We choose to believe he is proudly smiling at this unification of community.”
Students and faculty at schools throughout the state wore orange to support Engle. A number of schools collected donations for him and his family at their weekend games. Milton football players wore No. 4 stickers on their helmets. Central Mountain donated 50/50 proceeds to Engel’s family.
Engel was a key part of Jersey Shore’s District 4 Class 4A championship team last season.
Jersey Shore is located in northern Pennsylvania, just west of Williamsport and northwest of State College. The Bulldogs play in Division I of the Heartland Conference.
