Kainen Boring, age 17, of Pikeville, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2011.

Bledsoe County High School football player Paul Kainen Boring, injured Thursday during practice, remained in critical condition Friday and was transferred to Erlanger hospital, officials said.

The high school junior was airlifted from Pikeville to Chattanooga after suffering an unspecified injury on the practice field, said Bledsoe County Director of Schools Phil Kiper.

"We ask everyone to pray for him," Kiper said Friday, adding he could not release any information about the player or the nature of his injury.

Newspaper archives show Boring was a kicker on the 2010 Bledsoe County High School Warriors team.

The Warriors did not have a game scheduled this week, which Kiper called "very much a blessing because I'm not sure we could have had a game."

The schools director said there were people at the school to talk to students.

"We just tried to have a normal school day as much as possible under the circumstances," he said. "We're just hoping for good news."

Local resident Ricky Seals, who goes to Cold Springs Baptist Church with the Boring family, said Friday that church members there are making efforts to support the family. He said that First Southern Baptist Church in Pikeville held a prayer meeting for Boring and his family Thursday night.

The family is active in church and youth events, Seals said. He said Boring was well liked and involved.

"He's a real good boy. He's very athletic and active," he said.