NEW BOSTON, Mich. -- Huron High School senior Derek Greka died Tuesday, five weeks after he suffered injuries in a school football game.

Greka tore an intestine when he was hit by another player while going for a pass at a game against Airport High school on Oct. 12, according to school officials.

“It just looked like an innocent hit to me. I really thought he was going to be fine. When he came off the field, he ran off and he threw up, but I didn’t think anything of it because he just got hit in the stomach,” said Greka’s teammate.

Greka had been in the Intensive Care Unit since the accident. Over the weekend, he was transferred to Henry Ford Hospital, where he later died.

“It has been real, real tough on me because he has been my best friend since elementary school,” said Greka’s best friend.

Students, staff, the Varsity football team and the Huron Athletic Boosters sponsored a powder puff football game between the junior and senior girls in October to help raise money for Greka’s family.

“He had a big heart,” said a Huron High football player.

Greka’s jersey No. 80 will never be reissued at the school, said school officials, unless his younger brother decides to play football.