William Jewell College is mourning the loss of junior running back MicahJo Barnett, who died following a medical emergency during the team's season-opening football game against Fort Lewis College.
The game, played at Greene Stadium in Liberty, Missouri, was suspended after Barnett's incident.
The school's athletic department confirmed Barnett's passing on social media, stating, "Our thoughts & prayers are with MicahJo’s family, teammates, friends, & coaches." A vigil was scheduled for Saturday evening on the college quad in his honor.
Barnett, a business major, had scored a touchdown earlier in the game. He hailed from Shawnee, Kansas, and had led Liberty North High School to a state title during his senior year. He appeared in eight games as a freshman and five games in his sophomore year before a season-ending injury.
Dr. Drew Van Horn, the college's interim president, acknowledged the swift response from first responders, including the sheriff's office, police department, EMS, and the team physician, for their efforts to save Barnett.
The college and the Liberty community are seeking support following the tragic event. A separate incident mentioned in the notes involved two college cyclists killed and seven others injured in a crash on August 19 in Carter County, Tennessee. However, this incident is not directly related to Barnett's death.