Francis Perron -- a defensive lineman at the University of Ottawa -- passed away shortly after their season opener on Saturday, the school announced.
He was only 25 years old.
University of Ottawa president Jacques Fremont broke the sad news on Sunday ... saying the Canadian football player died after their first game of the season.
"Over the weekend, Francis Perron, one of our Mechanical Engineering students and a defensive lineman in his fifth season with Gee-Gees football, died shortly after a game between uOttawa and the University of Toronto.