Dixon High cancels football games after player’s death, police investigation
Dixon High School has canceled its upcoming varsity and junior varsity football games after the death of a junior varsity player that occurred after police were called to investigate an incident involving students at the school.
Dixon had already forfeited its junior varsity game on Friday evening at Woodland — a decision reached hours before the JV player was pronounced dead.
It is unclear whether there is any link between the student’s death and the incident.
The incident occurred on Thursday, and police were called to investigate it sometime on Friday, according to City of Dixon spokesperson Madeline Graf. Graf said police cannot share any details about the incident or the investigation until it concludes.
Woodland coaches were informed around 11 a.m. Friday that the JV game with Dixon would be canceled.
Police were called to the student’s home at 1:54 p.m. Friday, and he was pronounced dead after being hospitalized. A preliminary investigation shows the student died by suicide.
The Sacramento Bee is not naming the student as the death did not occur in a public place and the circumstances preceding it are unclear. He has been publicly identified by the school community.
“The school district has been focused this week on providing support to our students, staff, and families by making supportive mental health services available,” Dixon Unified School District spokesperson Isabella Quiniola wrote in an email Wednesday.
Principal Angela Brown wrote to families Monday that nine Dixon Unified School District mental health staff members, including mental health clinicians, counselors, psychologists and additional support staff would be at the school this week.
Mental health services were offered to football players starting Monday, a holiday, and extended to the rest of the school Tuesday, Quiniola wrote. Brown said in her email to families that teachers and administrators would provide time at the beginning of the day Tuesday for students to identify the type of support they may need.
Despite last week’s canceled JV game, Dixon’s varsity team played their scheduled game Friday at Woodland. Dixon has canceled its JV and varsity games for this upcoming Friday against Casa Roble of Orangevale, resulting in forfeits. The school district did not say whether Dixon will resume its JV or varsity seasons, with games remaining at home against Natomas on Oct. 24 and at Rio Linda on Oct. 31.
“Healing and recovery will continue to be our priority,” Quiniola said. “We wish to thank the Dixon community for the support of our students and families.”
She also said that the district is cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation and that school officials would not comment further.
Competing coach sends message of support
Dixon coach Wes Besseghini and Casa Roble coach Chris Horner on Wednesday late morning tried to work out some sort of plan to still play this week’s varsity game, Horner said. They could not pull it off.
Horner said he can feel for Besseghini, having lost a player to tragic circumstances last year, and the coach is mindful of how such loss can affect a campus and a community. Casa Roble football player and wrestler Julian Snyder was killed in a car crash last November.
“The absence of a game for our boys to compete in this week is insignificant compared to Dixon’s current situation,” Horner said. “Upon learning of this (situation), we wanted to take a supportive stance, committed to accepting whatever Dixon decided to do without complaint. Their leaders felt that they would not be able to play this Friday, so we are going to accommodate them. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dixon community right now.”
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.