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Gahanna football game honors coach, player who died in past week

"These families need us during this difficult time just as much as we need them," the Gahanna Lincoln High School Principal said

GAHANNA -- The Gahanna community came together for Friday night football for the first time since the unexpected deaths of a player and a coach.

17-year-old JaShawn Scott died after a car crash. 25-year-old Tommy Brown died after his family says he went to bed and never woke up.

Tommy was a former football player and middle school coach.

"For them to take a moment for him means the world to me," said Chrissi Brown, Tommy Brown's mother, in an interview Wednesday.

JaShawn was a junior at Gahanna Lincoln High School and a wide-receiver.

"Gahanna has been everything right now," said Keshaunta Scott, JaShawn Scott's mother, in another earlier interview. "I can't put into words how I really feel."

Fans wore their Gahanna blue. Players had special stickers on their helmets.

It was a loss you could both see and feel.

"There is a lot of emotion swirling through this stadium and this environment, but we all have put on our brave faces tonight for the Scott family and the Brown family," Gahanna Lincoln High School Principal Jessica Williams said. "We are here to support them the best way that we can."

In such a time of tragedy, this community stepped up by collecting donations during the game for the Scott family.

Students wrote memories and messages on boards dedicated to JaShawn and Tommy.

They want both of their families to know they're not alone.

"These families need us during this difficult time just as much as we need them," Williams said. "So we've reached our hand out to try to help them through what is a very tough time in their lives."

It's love and support that means so much to the mothers.

"It's an honor," Chrissi Brown said. "It means the world to me that he meant so much to so many."

"I know that baby was loved," Keshaunta Scott said. "JaShawn was loved. He was truly loved. He was everybody's baby."

We know at least the Scott family was at the game. Jalen Scott, JaShawn's brother, served as honorary captain.

After the game, players, band members, fans and family members gathered for a vigil.

Their cell phones were in the air, shining light into the darkness.

Then, they all raised their voices and sang the alma mater.

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