Boy, 9, dies after football practice in Ohio

A nine-year-old Meigs County boy died after football practice in Pomeroy, Ohio Monday night, reports CBS Wheeling, West Virginia, affiliate WTRF-TV.

Sheriff Keith Wood said the boy had been running sprints with his Big Bend Youth Football League team at Eastern High School. A coach discovered the boy on the ground unconscious and immediately began CPR and called 911.

The child was taken to an area emergency room and, according to officials with the Meigs County Coroner's Office, pronounced dead a short time later.

Coaches told sheriff's deputies the boy wasn't participating in a contact practice -- it was a walk-through practice only.

A gofundme.com campaign for the boy's family identified him as Wyatt Barber.

The campaign, which is seeking $15,000 for funeral and other expenses for his family, had raised more than a-third of that as of early Wednesday.

Campaign organizer Michelle Sisson, who says she is a local football mom, wrote, "The football program at Eastern is heartbroken as we lost one of our youngest little Super Eagles last night! His parents, siblings, family, teammates, coaches, friends, classmates, teachers & our football family need lifted up in prayers and surrounded by love & support from our small community! Wyatt was small but mighty and always smiling! He was our smallest Eagle on the sidelines on a Friday Night with our Varsity Eagles! Our #56 will forever be missed! Fly High Little buddy, WE LOVE YOU."

Eastern Local School Superintendent Scott Gheen released a statement saying, "The staff, students, and community of Eastern Local would like to express our sincere condolences to the family during this very unfortunate time. The school has put in place grief counseling services to assist the students and staff in need."

The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch cites Gheen as saying the boy was a third-grader, and the football program he was in isn't associated with the school district.