Dougherty, we have learned, suffered a concussion a month before his fatal brain hemorrhage. On a running play near the goal line, the Mountie junior was reportedly closing in to try and make a tackle on a Bosco player when he was blocked from both sides.

He collapsed, stood up briefly before collapsing again and was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he had immediate surgery but never regained consciousness, passing away on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

We also have learned that from 1997 to 2007, a national average of three high school players per year have died as a result of football-related injuries, although deaths related to heart conditions and heatstroke have increased in that same time period.

In North Jersey alone since August, three gridiron players have died, including a 17-year-old Cliffside Park High School player who collapsed after a tackle in practice and died four days later. Shortly afterward, a 13-year-old Waldwick Pop Warner player, who apparently had an undetected heart ailment, passed away.

And now Dougherty.

The statistics are one thing, and they’re certainly worth taking note of, but it’s the human toll with the loss of the young man himself that is everlasting when it comes to his family, friends, teammates and coaches.

While learning of Dougherty’s passing, Caldwell head football coach Ken Trimmer couldn’t help but feel a great deal of compassion for the boy’s family, Montclair head coach Ed Lebida and his staff and players.

After all, just two years ago on Oct. 11, 2006, 16-year-old Jamie Bliss, a junior wide receiver and defensive back for the Chiefs, died on the Caldwell High School field during practice from an undetected heart defect.

A popular member of both the football and baseball teams, Bliss’ loss was felt deeply throughout the communities of Caldwell and West Caldwell.

"I still think about Jamie every day," said Trimmer, who has spent 35 years on the coaching staff at Caldwell, including the last 15 as head coach. "I can still picture Jamie’s smile, which you could never forget, and, unfortunately, the day we went to the hospital with Jamie’s parents, and the horrible, horrible pain felt by everyone with his loss.

"My heart goes out to the whole community of Montclair, Ryne’s family, Ed Lebida, his coaching staff and the players.

"I hope that Ed reaches out to his coaches because they need his support as well right now. I remember when we lost Jamie I directed a lot of my energies to my players, trying to keep them as busy as possible and getting them back to their routine as quickly as possible. But in the midst of trying to keep everyone on a normal schedule, and we played a game three days after we lost Jamie, I feel I may have neglected my assistant coaches, who were definitely hurting a great deal as well."

Montclair (4-1) showed its grit and determination through a traumatic time, emerging as a 17-14 overtime winner at Ridgewood this past Saturday.

Placekicker Arman Walia converted a 38-yard field goal for the game-winning points in the extra session.

Everyone in Montclair has had their hearts and minds on Ryne, whose funeral was this past Monday at Christ Church.

"If there is anything I can tell Coach Lebida, it’s that I feel for what he is going through right now, and that it’s important for Ed and his coaches to know they did nothing wrong. These things, as tragic and horrible as they are, unfortunately happen," said Trimmer. "I remember vividly when we lost Jamie and I thought to myself, Oh, my God! Never in my life could I imagine this happening, that we could lose a young man in the prime of his life as he’s on our football field.

"After you realize that tragedies like these unfortunately do happen, and that ultimately you’re not going to be able to prevent them from occurring, you have to try to get through the pain the best way you can and realize that life simply has to go on."

Trimmer does not feel that football is inherently dangerous, or should be attacked as such by outsiders.

"Right away you have people belittling the game of football, but the protective equipment we use has never been better and the reconditioning of equipment is adhered to and conducted on a timely basis like never before," he said. "It is a game where there is physical contact and thousands of kids play each year. The percentage of kids who absorb serious injuries is low, even though one serious injury is one too many.

"Screening, with physicals and reviews of tests and medical information, is as thorough as it’s ever been. We teach and we coach to block, tackle and carry oneself on the field in a proper fashion, and we always encourage our players to be aware of what is occurring all around them to the best of their ability.

"Unfortunately, injuries will occur from time to time and you hope and pray the serious ones are few and far between. Football is a great game and a terrific character-builder for young men.

"That statement doesn’t make it any easier for the people of Montclair, and especially for the family of the young man who has passed away, but you have to try and do the best you can as you continue to go on with your life.

"You’ll never forget the young man, nor should you," he continued. "The fact we had Jamie for 16 years and we have the realization that he had a tremendous effect on the people around him helps keep his memory alive with us.

"I know I can’t forget him and I simply try to live with his passion and love of life."