What should have been a joyous victory for AISA team Morgan Academy’s first home game turned into a tragic reminder of how quickly a single moment can change lives.

Selma school quarterback Caden Tellier was injured in the third quarter of the game against Southern Academy. The 16-year-old was flown by medical helicopter to a UAB children’s hospital, where he succumbed to a head injury, the Selma Times-Journal reported.

Morgan Academy will play at Chambers Academy on September 27th in what will no doubt be an emotional game for both sides. I encourage our community to come out and show their support for the Rebels, who will face a grieving team, but especially the Senators, who will continue their season without their quarterback.

Let Chambers show them the love and grace I have seen countless times in this community.

I can’t imagine a world where football isn’t played. In small communities like Selma and Chambers, football is a mainstay for better or for worse, or not at all. Sports in general, but football in particular, is one of the few things in life that transcends. It takes us from the mundane to the extraordinary.

I understand that communities and even young children don’t want to lose that. However, that transcendent feeling can be destroyed so easily.

A tragic accident is difficult to deal with in any scenario because there is no one to blame and no one to blame. It seems cruelly random. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing to learn from it or improve. To all sporting goods companies, product developers and sports organizations like AISA and AHSAA: Invest in safety.

This game is not and has never been worth losing a life over. I cannot make a decision on this matter, but I implore those in power to make changes.

I don’t care if the game is a little slower, the pads and helmets are bulkier, or the hits are less impactful. Brain development doesn’t stop until the 20s. These kids are playing for their high schools, places that are supposed to encourage brain development. It shouldn’t take a tragedy to make us realize that we need to stop interfering with this process and get serious about protecting young athletes.

Better equipment and training can’t bring back Caden and the others who lost their lives playing. They can’t undo CTE or other traumatic brain injuries. They can’t undo the trauma of the other young athletes who played in that game Friday night. What they can do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.

When football unites, tragedy unites. There has been an outpouring of support from other AISA schools, including Springwood School and Chambers Academy. It was reported on national news that rivals Morgan Academy sent prayers to the school and asked their communities to donate to the GoFundMe campaign: In memory of Caden Tellier.

The Tellier family is religious and Morgan Academy is an AISA school. The school has asked for prayers for the family.

I didn’t know Caden and didn’t even know Morgan County until Friday. But from the way his school and family have written about him, it’s clear that he was a special person. Just as he used his energy and his body on the field, he did the same in the hospital. In a post from Caden’s mother, Arsella said her son is an organ donor.

She writes: “We continue to pray for those whose lives will be forever changed by his gifts. We hope that God will be glorified through our story, His love will be seen, and that Caden’s influence will touch the lives of many.”

His influence has only just begun.