Georgia high school senior football player drowns a week before first day of school

HEARD COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia high school football community is mourning the loss of a senior football player who died a week before the first day of school.

Heard County Braves confirmed on Tuesday night that Antwon Carter, a senior linebacker, died this week.

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“To know Antwon was to love him. He had the most contagious smile in the world. He was a friend to so many and a brother to everyone who shared a locker room with him. While nothing about today seems right or makes sense, and we don’t have an answer to every why, we know this – Antwon Carter was loved and loved others.,” head coach Shane Lasseter shared in a statement on social media.

“You will be missed is just not adequate enough to say with the massive impact you made as a son, a brother, a teammate. We will never forget him, we will always honor his name, and he will be forever loved in our hearts. We love #23.”

To know Antwon was to love him. He had the most contagious smile in the world. He was a friend to so many and a brother...
Posted by Shane Lasseter on Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Lasseter told the Times-Georgian newspaper that Carter and some of his teammates went on a last-minute trip to an Alabama park and were jumping off rocks when Carter got caught in a current. His teammates couldn’t reach Carter in time, according to the newspaper.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Alabama law enforcement that responded to the drowning for more information.

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Classes are scheduled to begin on Monday for Heard County Schools. This is the second year a row that the high school football team has dealt with tragedy a week before school started.

Hunter Huey, who was a rising freshman player, died in an accident in July 2022. The school hosted the memorial service for him at the football stadium.

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