The Warren Hills High School quarterback who died after Friday's night game against Summit took multiple hits throughout — and seemed to be in particular pain after one, a teammate said.

Senior Evan Murray left Friday's game after a particularly shortly before halftime — and passed out on the sidelines before being taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he died, witnesses have said.

But friend Mark Formichelli said Murray "was getting beat up for the whole game."

Murray, a three-sport athlete in his third year as varsity quarterback, took several hits throughout the game.

"The earlier hits weren't terrible, but there was one I do remember," Formichelli said. "He was holding his side. He was able to walk it off — but that's the one I remember where something visually looked wrong.

"He came back out on the sidelines and then back out on to the field. But that's the one I remember."

At the time, Formichelli didn't think much of it. It's only in retrospect that moment stood out.

"Evan's a tough guy. He's not going to be let that stop him — he'll play through things," he said. "If something was wrong, he didn't tell us. We just thought he got the wind knocked out of him."

Authorities still haven't said what killed Murray — an autopsy was reportedly scheduled for Saturday.

Formichelli said when Murray took his last hit of the game, team members helped him up off the ground. He was able to walk off to the sideline, but while he was on a bench "his eyes just looked like they rolled to the back of the head." A trainer tried to help him and an ambulance was quickly called.

Another friend, Sevian Frangipane, has told New Jersey 101.5 that the final hit didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary — but just about an hour later, he got a call saying Murray had died.

Both friends have described the Warren Hills community as a tight one, deeply affected by the teen's death. Crowds gathered at the school's  stadium Saturday night, for a service and candle lighting. Many left flowers, notes and other mementos.

"We're doing better than we were," Formichelli said.

The school is next scheduled to play on Friday, for a homecoming game against Voorhees.  Formichelli said while homecoming activities have been postponed, as far as he know, the game is still on. New Jersey 101.5 has not yet been able to contact school authorities for comment.

Murray had been among those nominated to be homecoming king, he said.

Formichelli said while he and other team members are shaken by the still-unexplained death, he's confident they know how to play football safety, and aren't worried for their own well-being heading into another game.

"But you always have in the back of your head anything could happen," he said.

Throughout the weekend, condolences poured in from throughout the state:

Gov. Chris Christie sent his own in a Tweet just before noon:

The New York Jets, just a little while later:

And from Bailey Reyes, Murray's girlfriend:

"I cannot thank you enough Evan for loving me like you did and filling each and every day with laughter and smiles," she continued. "You are my best friend and I knew I was going to marry you one day. I miss you so incredibly much and am struggling a lot but I know you are my guardian angel and are forever with me. I love you times infinity and always remember I also love you more. Fly high my love."

Evan Murray — who also played basketball and baseball — had been a varsity quarterback since his sophomore year. He'd volunteered with the same youth football program through which he'd developed his own skills, mentoring children from Washington Township in Warren County and neighboring communities.

Interim schools Superintendent Gary Bowen has said on the school’s website grief counselors would be available for students at the Warren County high school Saturday, and then for as long as needed.

“We are deeply saddened and sincerely appreciate the support and caring of our close-knit greater Warren Hills community,” he wrote.

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM