Andrew Dodson -- a high school football player in Kentucky -- has tragically died ... after he suffered a head injury during a routine tackle in an intrasquad scrimmage last week.
The boy's father, Alan Dodson, told the Lexington Herald-Leader his son was running the ball in the Pulaski County varsity football spring Maroon and White game on Friday ... when his teammate tackled him and he landed on his head.
Alan said there was nothing illegal or violent about the hit .