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Funeral Held For NJ High School Quarterback Who Died Following On-Field Hit

WASHINGTON, N.J. (CBSewYork/AP) -- Hundreds of people paid their respects Thursday to a star high school quarterback who collapsed and died after taking a hit on the playing field last week.

Seventeen-year-old Evan Murray died from massive internal bleeding caused by a lacerated spleen, authorities said. The medical examiner said Murray's spleen was abnormally large, making it susceptible to injury, CBS2's Christine Sloan reported.

Murray's private funeral was held at Faith Discovery Church in Washington Township.

The line of mourners waiting to get into the church stretched through the parking lot, CBS2's Meg Baker reported. Many, including police officers, are wearing ribbons with "No. 18 Strong" -- his jersey number -- pinned on their chests.

Warren Hills Regional High School is open to the public and is showing a video feed. Classes have been canceled at the high school and middle school.

The wake for the popular three-sport athlete and honors student was held Wednesday.

Steve Fritz, Murray's eighth-grade gym teacher, said it's an emotional time for Murray's family and for the school.

"I was talking to a teacher, they said on Monday you could hear a pin drop in the high school," Fritz said. "There was nobody talking, they were just walking around."

Firtz said he has received calls from people expressing condolences from as far as Florida and California.

School officials said the football team will continue its season Saturday when it hosts Voorhees High School in a game that was initially scheduled for Friday night.

The matchup was also supposed to be the homecoming game for Warren Hills, but those festivities have been postponed.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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