CAPRON—A pre-existing, unknown heart condition led to the death of a Southampton High School football player, a family spokesman said Tuesday.

Preliminary autopsy results show that Brian Rushing’s death was not related to a hit on the field or football injury, said the Rev. Charles Worth.

“He suffered no life-threatening injuries from football,” Worth said. “Any exertion would have brought on this condition.”

Glenn McBride, district administrator in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Norfolk, could not confirm these results Tuesday. Official results have not been released.

Rushing, a senior defensive tackle for the Indians, died in his sleep Saturday morning after SHS defeated Franklin High School Friday night.