Caden Tellier, a 16-year-old junior at Morgan Academy in Selma, Alabama, tragically died after suffering a critical brain injury during a football game on Friday night (Aug. 23).
It was during the third quarter of the Morgan Academy Senators’ second game of the season when Tellier, who plays quarterback, was injured after a routine tackle. Tellier was immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injury.
On Facebook, Caden’s mother, Arsella, wrote, “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.”
“Lives have been touched by the way he lived and now lives will be saved through his passing,” she added. “We will walk out these next few days alongside him in his earthly body knowing that his spirit is rejoicing in heaven. Arrangements for a service will be made soon.”
RELATED: Worship, Salvations, and Baptisms! Ohio State Football Players Host Faith Event on Campus
The school’s headmaster, Dr. Bryan Oliver, said in a Facebook post on the school’s official page that he knows Caden is with his “Lord and Savior” because he “loved the Lord with all his heart” and displayed that love every day at school.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Caden Tellier has gone to be with his Lord and Savior,” Oliver said. “Caden loved the Lord with all his heart and was a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete and most important a Christ follower.”
Oliver went on to say that there “are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella, and Lyla with our whole hearts.”
“We offer our deepest sympathy to the Tellier’s [sic] extended family as well,” Oliver said. “I want to thank all the schools and individuals that have reached out during this difficult time.”
“Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy,” he concluded.
On Monday, the school held a time of prayer to honor Tellier. During the prayer service, Oliver told students and parents that through Tellier’s death, they have the opportunity to “spread [Caden’s] light and love for Jesus across” their town and throughout their community.
“And let it have an eternal impact because that’s what Caden wanted,” Oliver said. “Caden was defined by his love for the Lord and his ability to spread that like wildfire.”
RELATED: ‘God, You Are Good’—Steven Curtis Chapman Remembers Daughter Maria 15 Years After Her Tragic Death
Tellier’s father, Jamie, an assistant football coach for the school, said that “my son was an exceptional athlete, and my son loved playing football, and he loved playing baseball, and he loved trying to lead people in whatever sport he was doing.”
.){kind=link}