Alabama high school player dies after brain injury during football game
SELMA, Ala. (WDHN) — A South Alabama high school football player who died after being injured during a game over the weekend was remembered at a Monday memorial service.
Morgan Academy junior quarterback Caden Tellier, who died Saturday after being injured during a Friday night football game, was remembered as a caring and talented athlete who accomplished much in his 16 years.
Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) officials said in a statement that the 16-year-old junior suffered a brain injury during a game against Southern Academy in Selma.
Tellier was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Birmingham for treatment.
A family member posted on Facebook Saturday evening, saying Tellier had passed away and indicating that he would save lives through organ donation. Morgan Academy Headmaster Bryan Oliver confirmed to al.com that Tellier was an organ donor.
“Our boy, Caden Tellier, has met Jesus face to face. We appreciate all of your prayers and we covet them for the hard days ahead. Everyone who knows Caden has known kindness, generosity and love, and true to his nature, he is giving of himself one more time."
Arasella and Jamie Tellier posted on Facebook
Students, parents, and teachers, wearing school colors of maroon and gold gathered at a memorial and prayer service held in the gym of the small private school. Members of his family sat in the first row of the memorial service.
“There has been an outpouring of love that we have received from everyone in this room, people across the country,” Jamie Tellier, the teen’s father, told the community that gathered in the gym.
“I could tell you a lot about who my son was, who my son is,” said Tellier. “My son was an exceptional athlete. But the thing he loved the most was to talk about Jesus.”
He told the school’s football players that he would still be around because, “Caden is not going to want me to stop doing things.”
Outside the school, flowers, balloons with his 17 jersey number, and notes were placed in the student parking lot in remembrance of Tellier. “Miss U Buddy,” was scrawled in chalk next to a heart.
According to a press release, Morgan Academy suspended all school activities this week to give their community time to come together, reflect, and support one another.
"We ask that our entire AISA family and the people of Alabama join us in prayer for peace and comfort Caden’s family and the Morgan Academy community as they navigate this difficult time," said Michael McLendon, AISA executive director.
Friends of the Telliers have set up a GoFundMe page to help the family with medical bills, including the cost of the life flight, as well as funeral expenses and lost wages from missed work.
This marks the second incident on a football field this month across South Alabama. On Aug. 13, Semaj Wilkins, a freshman football player at New Brockton High School died unexpectedly after collapsing during practice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.