NewsLocal News

Actions

High school football team scores 72 points to honor late teammate

Posted at 9:34 AM, Sep 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-18 09:45:44-04

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A Fort Myers high school football team lit up the scoreboard to honor a former teammate who died of heat exhaustion.

16-year-old Zachary Martin-Polsenberg played for Riverdale High School but died in July 2017 after suffering from heat exhaustion during a practice that June.

This Monday night, his teammates put together an amazing effort to honor him.  In a make-up game for Friday’s game that was postponed by lightning, the Riverview Raiders trounced the East Lee County Jaguars 72-0.

Zach wore number 72, and the team passed up further opportunities to score after hitting the 72-point mark.

Zach's mom shared her thoughts on the Zach Martin Memorial Foundation's Facebook page, which is part of her mission to promote education about heat illness prevention.