Holliston football player, 16, dies

A 16-year-old Holliston High football player is being remembered for his "youthful spirit" and willingness to help others, after he died Friday night during a scrimmage.

Joseph Larracey died after being hit in the chest during a scrimmage at Lakeville's Apponequet Regional High School, said his uncle, Tom Larracey.

"He'll be remembered for his youthful spirit, unassuming nature and constant cheerfulness," said the elder Larracey. "It's a loss to society."

Holliston schools Superintendent Brad Jackson said the cause of death is still under investigation. A state police spokesman said the Plymouth County District Attorney's office is investigating Larracey's death and plans an autopsy.

"Any tragedy of this magnitude will have a profound effect" on the school community, Jackson said.

At Holliston High yesterday, grief counselors from the school and Holliston Youth and Family Services were available to students.

"It's going to be a long and difficult process for all of us," said Jackson.

At Larracey's home on Andrew Lane, more than a dozen cars lined the road while friends and neighbors of the family filed through the front door shortly before noon yesterday.

Tom Larracey, along with Joseph's grandfather, Vin Cerrati, and family friend Dan Higgins, stood on the lawn while speaking with a reporter yesterday afternoon. The family was visited at the house by the football team and school administrators on Friday night and early yesterday morning.

The three men fought back tears, but occasionally cracked smiles at the memory of Joseph - Joey to friends and family - who his uncle called "the perfect son."

"At that age, like any kid, he wanted to be a professional football player," said Tom Larracey.

Joseph Larracey loved sports, including football and baseball, his uncle said. He was a straight-A honor student who planned to attend college after graduation.

But Larracey looked beyond himself. He helped his mother while she worked with handicapped children, and volunteered his time with classmates to maintain local athletic fields, said Tom Larracey.

"He was a giver, not a taker," said Tom Larracey.

Larracey, a lineman, also appears as one of the News' "Players to watch" in today's special section on high school athletes. It was printed before the accident.

His uncle said Larracey must have been hit in the chest during the scrimmage. During a huddle with teammates, Larracey reported he was dizzy and team trainers examined him, and originally believed he sustained a concussion. But Larracey passed out and an ambulance transported him to Morton Memorial Hospital in Taunton around 8:20 p.m.

An EKG found something wrong with his heart, said Cerrati, Larracey's grandfather, and his lungs filled with fluid. He died at the Taunton hospital. His uncle said Larracey just passed a team physical exam and was healthy.

"This was a one in a million chance. But he was a one in a million kid," said Tom Larracey.

Panthers Coach Todd Kiley spoke to his team yesterday, and told players they would need to rely on each other after losing Larracey.

Kiley said he couldn't talk about what happened to Larracey but said "nobody was in better shape" than Larracey and he appeared healthy.

In his third year with the team, Larracey became both an offensive and defensive starter, Kiley said.

"He possessed every quality" for a teammate, athlete and friend, Kiley said. "He is going to be missed."

Apponequet coach Bob Lomp said yesterday, "It's a tragedy that my coaching staff and players feel terrible about. I addressed my kids this morning, and they're taken aback. We're football players. No one sees something like this coming."

Grief counselors will be at the high school today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the school will let students leave written messages for Larracey's family.

On a Facebook page set up to honor Larracey, mourning friends had left more than 60 messages for him as of early yesterday evening.

"Joey, this isnt fair. you are one of the nicest kids ive had the pleasure of knowing, and you were a great athlete. one of my favorite teammates on our baseball team," wrote one of Larracey's friends.

"You were always the dedicated and clever one in the class, always striving for the top. And here I am, with those good memories abundant in my head, bringing a sad smile to my face," wrote a classmate from Holliston High.

The Facebook site also announced a vigil for Larracey to be held by Holliston High's football and cheerleading teams today, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the school's football field.

(John Hilliard can be reached at 508-626-4449 or John.Hilliard @cnc.com.)