ALCOA, Tenn. — On Thursday, high school football teams met on the field for a matchup late in the regular season. The game was not regular, though. At the game, Alcoa High School honored the life of a Kingston High School player who died in late April due to a car crash.
Blazer Beaumia died in a crash that involved four minors. He was 15 years old. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said a 17-year-old was driving on Swan Pond Circle near Lake Shore Drive when he swerved to avoid crashing into another vehicle and crashed into a tree.
"It was a very surreal moment to be recognized, for Blazer to be recognized at an away game," said Nate Beaumia, Blazer's father. "Blazer was a good kid. He'd be hard to forget."
Alcoa High School painted a memorial in his honor and gifted Kingston High School with a coin and a flag. Beaumia played as quarterback for Kingston High School. The coach of Blazer's former team said he was at a loss for words when he learned that there would be a tribute for him at the game.
"Football is a huge fraternity. Whether you play for Kingston, whether you play for Alcoa doesn't really matter. When, you know, the team has a fallen teammate — it's good to see every, all the teams collaborate and just show their love for him," said Brian Pankey, Head Coach for Kingston. "For them to honor a kid that they didn't even know. It's just, you know, I can't put words on it. It's just so unexplainable."
Alcoa won the game Thursday night, but Blazer's spirit was still on the field for many of the players and fans there.
"He cared about people, everyone he met. He had a genuine love for everybody, and that's his, I believe that's his legacy," said Nate.
Blazer's father also said he is working with East Tennessee leaders to start a foundation in honor of his late son.
"Even though he's not making plays on the field, he still brings a big impact to the game. And, you know, we recognize it and we're gonna make sure that it's known, and that he's still here with us," said Riley Spoden, a junior at Alcoa High School.