Kentucky football to light Kroger Field in honor of Pulaski County player who died

Several Kentucky football stadiums will light up Friday night, and Kroger Field will be among them.

Coach Mark Stoops said Thursday that University of Kentucky's football stadium will join others in honoring Pulaski County High School football player Andrew Dodson, who died Monday from a head injury sustained in a spring scrimmage last week. Kroger Field will be lit for 80 minutes, Dodson's number for the Maroons.

"The University of Kentucky will be glad to participate tomorrow in honoring Andrew Dodson in Pulaski County for their loss," Stoops said. "Our hearts and prayers are with them, with the family. I did talk to Coach (John) Hines, and it's a terrible tragedy. We're glad to just be a small part in honoring him tomorrow."

More on Dodson:Kentucky high school football player dies after sustaining head injury in spring scrimmage

Pulaski County's coach, Hines, said Wednesday the Maroons' football stadium would be lit starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Louisville's Valley High School will also honor Dodson, the school announced on social media.

Dodson, a junior tight end at Pulaski County, was injured Friday in the team's final practice of the spring. Andrew's father, Alan Dodson, told the Lexington Herald-Leader his son was tackled by a teammate when the injury occurred. He was taken to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, in Somerset, and died Monday.

“It was not a violent hit or helmet-to-helmet. It was a simple, clean tackle,” Alan Dodson said.

Follow assistant sports editor Jake Adams on Twitter @jakeadams520 or email him at jadams@gannett.com