It was Friday, Sept. 12, and the Tombstone High School football team was feeling invincible.

After throwing on layers of pads and gear, the varsity boys squad boarded the bus to the old Tombstone High football field, trotted out to the grass and began the traditional pre-game warm-up and conditioning for a matchup with visiting San Manuel High School.

As the team was getting “hyped up,” said senior quarterback Travis Soto, shock and sorrow crippled the Yellow Jackets emotionally.

Tombstone Head Coach Mike Hayhurst called the team into a circle about 20 minutes before kickoff, informing players that the highly anticipated matchup between the Miners was canceled.

A fatal accident on Interstate 10 left a van of 11 San Manuel coaches and cheerleaders rolled over just before 5 p.m. at Empirita Road. Behind them, an Acura car, with no relation to San Manuel High School, was also wrecked after colliding with a semi-truck, leaving two individuals dead on the scene, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

In a phone interview September 22, San Manuel principal John Ryan said that all the eight students and three coaches in the van were released from University Medical Center in Tucson. He was unable to comment on their current status returning to school.

One coach is still in a rehab facility, “working hard to return to her work,” Ryan said.

“I would also like to commend the wonderful people at Tombstone High School who showed the entire state of Arizona the true meaning of sportsmanship and more importantly caring for others,” Ryan said in a released statement. “From tragedy grows strength and from adversity we have found new friends.”

The news of the accident left the Tombstone football players in shock. Some were disappointed, others struck with grief.

“The adrenaline was going before it happened, but as soon as we heard it was a smack in the face,” said outside linebacker Josh Uchimura. “Reality kicked in right there. You think about the football game and when that happens, it’s no longer a football game.”

Once news circulated between the two teams, all the players gathered in the center of the field, dropped to one knee and joined in prayer. Most players had their heads bent, eyes closed, praying for the safety of those injured in the accident. Hayhurst told his players.

“I could feel the Holy Spirit around me in that moment,” said left tackle A.J. Anderson, 18.

Football players from San Manuel, normally known for their brawn and their strength, finally broke down and cried.

For about 20 more minutes, “hugs and high fives” were exchanged as Tombstone players encouraged the Miners to stay strong. The cheerleaders, in another circle, huddled up and said a prayer of their own for those injured in the highway crash.

Soto approached a Miners quarterback and offensive linebacker.

“We just started talking and the kid [linebacker] said his mom was in the van,” Soto recalled. “We all just said a prayer together, praying that everything would be OK and everyone would be safe.”

A public address was made by Tombstone principal Robert Devere canceling the game, which shocked students and parents.

“Facial expressions said it all,” said Uchimura. “Everyone was looking at us in shock. To me, I think they were thinking that this wasn’t football anymore.” 

The time finally came for San Manuel players to pack their bags and board the bus for the two and a half hour trek home.

“We waited for them to get their bags, undressed, lined up at the gate where they exit and wished them a safe trip home,” Soto said. “We were thankful that they had the chance to come down and wished them a safe trip back and that the cheerleaders would be OK.”

Parents, cheerleaders and supporters alike, joined the football team in the tunnel as the San Manuel players boarded the bus.

“Our boys acted with tremendous class that Friday night,” added Hayhurst. “And for that, I’m real proud of them.”