A 17-year-old football player in Georgia was found dead Sunday, a day before he was supposed to represent his high school in the state championship game, authorities said.
"We are heartbroken to hear the news of the tragic and untimely death of one of our student-athletes, Brandon Smith," the Meriwether County School System said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Meriwether County Sheriff's Office said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was contacted Sunday to assist with the crime scene in the town of Manchester.
The GBI, which is now handling the investigation, could not be reached for comment.
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As a Manchester Blue Devil, Smith was supposed to play against Bowdon High School in the Georgia 1A state football championship.
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