A 17-year-old Georgia high school football player was found dead on Sunday — a day after he was reported missing and a day before his team was to play in the state championship.

Brandon Smith played for Manchester High School’s football team, Meriwether County School System Superintendent Robert A. Griffin and Manchester High Principal Suze Neal said in a joint letter to families, WXIA reported.

Smith was a “loyal teammate and friend who excelled on and off the field. He will be deeply missed,” the letter said.

“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the tragic and untimely death of one of our student-athletes, Brandon Smith,” the letter said. “Manchester High School’s celebration of playing for the Georgia 1-A State Football Championship has unfortunately turned into something none of us could have fathomed.”

Smith was reported missing by his coach on Saturday.

Manchester is scheduled to play defending champion Bowdon High School Monday night at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The two teams played in the first game of the season, won by Manchester.

Investigators have released no information about Smith’s death, but a large area was taped off in Manchester, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was assisting the city police in the investigation. The GBI said it was assisting in crime scene processing only.

The school district said that counselors would be made available at the school on Monday.

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[Featured image: Brandon Smith/handout]