High school football player found dead hours before his team are due to play in state championship game at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium

A high school football player was found dead the day before his team was set to play in the state championship game at the Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The player’s name has been announced Atlanta-Journal of Constitution as Manchester High School sophomore Brandon Smith, citing a letter from Meriwether Schools.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic and untimely passing of one of our student-athletes, Brandon Smith,” the letter read.

“Manchester High School’s celebration for the Georgia 1-A State Football Championship unfortunately turned into something none of us could have imagined.”

Smith was reported missing on Saturday.

Brandon Smith is seen in an undated photo of him lifting weights. The teenager was pronounced dead.

Smith was scheduled to play with his team in the Georgia 1-A state football championship.

He was 17 years old.

The cause of his death has not been confirmed.

The Manchester school will face Bowdon on Monday night in the Class A Division 2 final.

This is the school’s first championship game since 1997, the AJC noted.