A head coach and a referee died in two separate incidents during the opening night of high school football in Alabama on Friday.

Lincoln High School head coach Keith Howard (pictured) complained of chest pains during halftime of his team's opener at Etowah High in Attalla. He was rushed to the hospital where he died of a heart attack. His team won the game easily, even though fans began to learn about his death during the fourth quarter. (A moment that becomes an odd footnote in this game recap.)

Meanwhile, two hundred miles away in Dothan, Alabama, referee James Parrish collapsed early in the game he was covering and also died at a local hospital. So I guess high school football isn't the most important thing in the world. Funny how that works out.

Lincoln coach stricken at game, dies [Birmingham News]
Coach's death overshadows Lincoln win [Gadsden Times]
Don't forget what high school football coaches do and who they are [Anderson Independent-Mail]
Tragedy on the gridiron: Lincoln Head Coach Keith Howard dies at season opener [Daily Home]

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