HUNTINGTON BEACH – Garden Grove football player Kevin Telles died playing the sport he loved.

“He went out doing what he loved,” his brother, Edgar Garduno, said early Saturday morning.

Garduno, 22, was among the family and friends still gathered outside Huntington Beach Hospital. Telles died Friday night from injuries sustained while playing in a game at Westminster.

The 17-year-old linebacker/fullback was transported to the hospital, where a crowd of about 300 gathered after the game.

“People looked up to him,” Garduno said. “He got good grades at school. He trained every day. He did conditioning. He went to the gym every day. … He watched what he ate. He didn’t eat junk food. He just wanted to be the best at football.”

Garduno said Kevin had played football since his freshman year at Garden Grove.

His favorite NFL player was Troy Polamalu of the Steelers.

“He wanted to be like him,” Garduno said.

Another brother, Robert Telles, said Kevin was a three-year varsity player and a starter.

“He was a great football player,” Robert said. “He was my Troy Polamalu.”

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