New Mexico teams rally for hospitalized football player

The one sound got here from the flapping of a white flag with “#ABESTRONG” and the quantity 22, his jersey quantity, inscribed beneath an Organ Mountain Excessive Faculty emblem.

The Organ Mountain and Mayfield gamers kneeled at midfield after it was introduced that the primary cross-city rivalry recreation of the season could be devoted to Romero, the Organ Mountain senior linebacker who has remained in a medically induced coma since all of a sudden collapsing between performs throughout the workforce’s recreation in opposition to Deming. They remained nonetheless throughout the silence – 22 seconds lengthy for No. 22.

Romero wasn’t in attendance to look at the Knights 28-0 win over the Trojans (their first win over Mayfield since 2017), however his presence was plain, the Las Cruces Solar-Information reported.

Followers wore brilliant inexperienced ribbons with the quantity “22” on their lapels. Gamers wore helmet decals with the initials “A.R.” The house stands have been coated in indicators providing help for the 17-year-old: “STRONG FOR 22;” “FIGHT FOR ABE;” “LET’S FIGHT ON #22.”

Booster membership mother and father patrolled the stands holding assortment jars with Romero’s photograph whereas highschool college students collected for the 50/50 raffle, the proceeds of which each booster golf equipment pledged to donate to Romero and his household.

“I acquired choked up speaking to the officers earlier than the sport. We nonetheless had Abe be a captain tonight. We simply wrote down his quantity,” head coach Steve Castille mentioned. “Not for one second was it off our minds. It’s an enormous deal. (Soccer) each needs to be on the again burner a bit of bit, however the recreation’s nonetheless on the schedule.”

Romero’s mom, Elizabeth Alonzo, watched Organ Mountain’s most impressed efficiency of the season on her iPad propped on his hospital mattress whereas she clasped her hand round his. She nonetheless needed him to have the ability to take heed to the broadcaster’s name of the Knights tied 0-0 at halftime, then leap out to a 14-0 lead within the third quarter, then drive within the dagger within the fourth quarter even when he wasn’t aware. He had by no means missed a soccer recreation earlier than.

“(I’m) viewing the sport proper subsequent to my Knight as if I used to be watching him on the sector,” Alonzo mentioned. “All the time collectively.”

Romero has remained unconscious for the final six days, and Alonzo has requested for as many prayers as attainable as her son continues to battle. However the group despatched a reminder Thursday night time that the household isn’t alone.

Mayfield’s cheerleading squad donated $260 to the Romero household, bolstering the greater than $3,000 town’s 4 main excessive faculties have raised already. Mayfield raised a further $1,389 in its 50/50 raffle to donate to the household, which additionally included the income from its final dwelling recreation, and Organ Mountain contributed $624 from its 50/50 raffle. Alonzo mentioned she has personally acquired greater than $300 donated on to her already.

Cobre and Silver Metropolis Excessive Colleges have additionally mentioned they’ll settle for donations throughout their recreation Friday night time, and Las Cruces Excessive, Centennial, Mayfield and Organ Mountain Excessive Colleges will collectively host a automotive wash at Three Crosses Regional Hospital in Las Cruces Sunday, Sept. 4.

“I really feel unbelievably blessed that the group has united for my son and he’s so beloved,” Alonzo mentioned. “I might commerce the world to have my son on the sector tonight with the remainder of his brothers.”

Alonzo remembered her household isn’t alone within the struggle.

And heard it too.

Because the clock wound down and the 2 groups trudged towards midfield for the postgame handshake, Organ Mountain’s bleachers broke out chanting, “Twenty-two! Twenty-two!” The band banged its bass drum 22 instances.

The scorekeeper stopped the clock at 22 seconds. Gamers carried a flag with Romero’s quantity as they huddled on the sector after the sport and proclaimed a brand new period of Knight soccer. They held a 22-second prayer after the sport. A number of gamers remained kneeled for longer as they held again tears.

This one was for Abe.

“It’s a tricky factor to lose a brother like that within the style that it occurred,” Castille mentioned. ”…It’s a tremendous factor for the group once you get into that stuff. I don’t know if ‘romantic’ is the phrase I’m going to make use of, however it brings this entire group collectively.”