Aledo teen who unexpectedly died remembered at football game

It was an emotional night at the Aledo High School football game on Friday after a member of the team died suddenly one week ago.

Ricky Standifer, 16, died Saturday after suffering a condition similar to a brain aneurysm. Now the team says it will use his memory as an inspiration throughout the season.

Standifer reportedly complained about a severe headache last Saturday morning. As his parents were about to take him to the ER he collapsed. He was put on life support and never woke up.

"We had a few kids who had to leave practice a little bit early because their emotions were kind of overwhelming understandably,” said coach Steve Wood.

Standifer was a right tackle and loved playing football, and his team loved him.

"Hard, hard-working kid. Yes sir, no sir, everything you asked out of the young man,” Wood said. “He was mature enough when he was 16 and got his driver's license he signed up to be an organ donor so a lot of people are going to be able to live healthy lives because of Ricky."

Ricky's parents say he died from a condition called AVM., which is similar to an aneurysm. It’s something he most likely had since birth and was not from a concussion.

Before Friday night’s game, his football family paused for a moment of silence.

Truett Knox has known Ricky from his freshman year and said it's tough losing someone everybody loved and loved to be around.

"He was the guy that people like to talk to, he would listen. Just a great guy,” Knox said. "Ricky was a Christian, so we know he's going off to a better place. We just know that everything happens for a reason, as bitter as it is, as tough as it is, we just know that he's out there. He's looking down on us and he's always going to be a part of us."

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