A standout high school football player from Florida tragically died on Christmas Eve after being caught up in a car accident with his family.
Brian Moss, a 16-year-old freshman for Viera High School, was killed in the crash that occurred as his family drove home from an event in the Floridian city of DeLand on the evening of December 23, local newspaper Viera Voice is reporting.
‘The Moss family was in a car accident and tragically, Brian Moss has passed away due to injuries he sustained in the accident,’ the Church at Viera, where the Moss family attended church, said in a statement last week.
‘Our church family is heartbroken over Brian’s death and we are holding you, his family, and his friends close in our prayers today.’
Moss’ mother was expected to sing during the church’s annual Christmas Eve service, according to Florida Today.
Just a week before his passing, Moss was named the Varsity Specialty Player of the Year, said Viera Hawks coach Tony Gulla.
Florida high school football standout Brian Moss (pictured), 16, was killed in a car accident with his family on Christmas Eve
‘This is a tough loss. He was a great kid and an excellent student,’ Gulla said.
News of Moss’ death emerged Wednesday morning, shortly before the team was due to hold a scheduled workout. Rather than cancel it, Gulla opted to hold the workout in order for his players to be together at such a difficult time.
‘We spoke as a team,’ Gulla told Viera Voice. ‘Some kids took it real hard. Some kids were crying. Some kids didn’t even know about it, so it was a shock. And it’s still a shock until it sets in.
‘I know kids. They’re not going to realize the significance of it until we get to the memorial service.’
The Hawks coach added that they did 34 pushups to memorialize Moss at the workout, a reference to his No 34 jersey.
‘He was going to be a special kid,’ Gulla added. ‘He was the type of kid that gave 100 percent effort all the time. That’s why he was so big on kickoffs. To cover kicks, it takes a special player. He was full speed all the time.
‘Defensively, he was going to be our starting safety next year. He had the talent to go really far with his football career.’
