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Team captains solemnly held Smith’s jersey, walking it to the 50-yard line as a powerful symbol of remembrance.
MANCHESTER, Ga. — At a state championship football game, the Manchester High School Blue Devils played with heavy hearts, paying tribute to their fallen teammate, Brandon Smith, who was shot and killed on Sunday.
“He was a very important part of us getting here,” Stephen Holmes, Blue Devils Head Coach said. “You know (I’m) just all numb right now.”
The 1-A Division 2 State Championship game against Bowdon High School became more than a quest for victory; it became a moment to honor the memory of 17-year-old Smith, who was shot and killed, his body discovered just a day before the championship showdown.
“He was respected, he loved football, and they took his life from him for what? I don’t know what he did to deserve this,” Maxine Smith, his grandmother said.
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As the Blue Devils battled on the field, they faced not only the pressure of the championship but also the weight of grief and unanswered questions surrounding Smith’s tragic fate.
“He matter and we want to make sure our players remembered that,” Holmes said.
The team lost the championship game 28 to 27, but despite the defeat, both teams demonstrated their sportsmanship and resilience.
At this time the Meriwether County Coroner did not confirm Brandon Smith’s cause of death, stating that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) will be conducting an autopsy on Smith.
