Family, Friends Say Goodbye to Successful Student Athlete

Seventeen-year-old Max Draughon collapsed from heat exhaustion during football practice Saturday. He died the next day.

The funeral took place at Triton High School, where hundreds showed up to pay their last respects.

Draughon's family, friends and teammates went to say goodbye to Triton High School's class president. His teammates wore their jerseys and sat together out of respect for their fallen leader.

People attending the funeral said that Draughon was a special person who touched hundreds of lives.

"Everyone is still in disbelief that we are getting ready to say the final rights to one of our best," Triton High School principal Dan Honeycutt said. "It's just been a long, hard trying day and week."

Those who knew Max say his death, though tragic, was not in vain.

"Max was that young man that was given to us to be an example to show us that life is fragile and precious, and can never be taken for granted, no matter how big and strong we may be," Honeycutt said. "And also that he was given to us to be an example of how a young person should live his life."

Draughon's team dedicated this football season to him. They say his goal was to win a conference championship, and they hope to fulfill that goal in his memory.