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Southern Local remembers football player killed in crash
Thursday night, Southern Local High teammates and the community gathered under the stadium lights to remember one of their own.19-year-old Marcus Walter was on his way to his final practice for the Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic All Star football game around 5 p.m. Thursday.
Thursday, June 25th 2015, 10:53 PM EDT
Updated:
Thursday night, Southern Local High teammates and the community gathered under the stadium lights to remember one of their own.
19-year-old Marcus Walter was on his way to his final practice for the Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic All Star football game around 5 p.m. Thursday. He was driving along State Route 164 near Crestview Road, when tragedy struck.
State troopers say, Walter's vehicle went left of center and hit an oncoming vehicle. Walter, a recent high school graduate, died. The other driver, 28-year-old Joshua Forney of Leetonia, was flown to St. Elizabeth's with injuries. Troopers have not disclosed the nature of Forney's injuries.
Coach Mike Skrinjar says, playing in the all star game tonight had been one of Walter's goals.
“He actually worked hard and got himself into a position to where he could play in that. So I was very proud of him,” Skrinjar said. “It's kind of a bitter sweet ending to that – being that that was something he had talked about so much and then this event happening.”
Skrinjar says during the season, Walter – a football captain – gave up the position he wanted. He ended up playing right tackle for the sake of the team.
He was supposed to get the chance to play his dream position of tight end tonight, while wearing the number 76 jersey.
It's the same number that his uncle once wore in a Penn-Ohio game.
“His heart went out to all of the people around him,” Skrinjar said. “Those kind of people – you see them all in the world – and he was one of them.”
Skrinjar says Walter wanted to go into the military or play football at Bethany College.
There will be a special tribute to Walter at the all star game on Friday. Grief counselors will also be available at Southern Local High school that morning, to help those dealing with the sudden death of a recent graduate and football player.
19-year-old Marcus Walter was on his way to his final practice for the Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic All Star football game around 5 p.m. Thursday. He was driving along State Route 164 near Crestview Road, when tragedy struck.
State troopers say, Walter's vehicle went left of center and hit an oncoming vehicle. Walter, a recent high school graduate, died. The other driver, 28-year-old Joshua Forney of Leetonia, was flown to St. Elizabeth's with injuries. Troopers have not disclosed the nature of Forney's injuries.
Coach Mike Skrinjar says, playing in the all star game tonight had been one of Walter's goals.
“He actually worked hard and got himself into a position to where he could play in that. So I was very proud of him,” Skrinjar said. “It's kind of a bitter sweet ending to that – being that that was something he had talked about so much and then this event happening.”
Skrinjar says during the season, Walter – a football captain – gave up the position he wanted. He ended up playing right tackle for the sake of the team.
He was supposed to get the chance to play his dream position of tight end tonight, while wearing the number 76 jersey.
It's the same number that his uncle once wore in a Penn-Ohio game.
“His heart went out to all of the people around him,” Skrinjar said. “Those kind of people – you see them all in the world – and he was one of them.”
Skrinjar says Walter wanted to go into the military or play football at Bethany College.
There will be a special tribute to Walter at the all star game on Friday. Grief counselors will also be available at Southern Local High school that morning, to help those dealing with the sudden death of a recent graduate and football player.
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