Photo: Thomas Graning/The Daily Mississippian
Football players at Oxford High School will participate in the biggest game of their lives Saturday. What they have done for one family off the field is perhaps the most special part of their undefeated season.
The Oxford High School football team is playing Saturday for the first state championship in school history. The Chargers (14-0) face Picayune High School (11-2) at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson for the 5A state title.
The usual football maxims throughout the season have contributed to the Chargers’ success, according to Oxford head coach Johnny Hill: hard work on and off the field, careful study of game tape and the ability to overcome adversity during games. But one unique factor for the undefeated Chargers has been possibly the most important to their success.
On Aug. 24, 17-year-old Oxford High School senior Sarah Bial was still “the new girl.” Just a couple weeks prior, Bial and her family moved to Oxford from Hattiesburg, and some girls wanted to welcome her to town.
Bial was with four other girls that night, three of whom also attended Oxford High School. Their vehicle crashed in Panola County. Bial was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
When news of the accident quickly reached Oxford, the community responded.
Students wept uncontrollably at a prayer vigil as they recalled their very recent memories with Bial. As is protocol when a student dies in the Oxford School District, grief counselors were made available to students and teachers. Multiple students reached out to Sarah’s family and shared some of their memories. But the outpouring of support did not stop there.
“Not everyone knew Sarah because she was here for such a short time, but everyone at least knew who she was since it’s such a small town,” 17-year-old Oxford senior and Charger long snapper Chad Lamar said. “Everyone felt terrible. It was a really tough time. We felt terrible for her family, so we knew that we wanted to do something for them. We had to do what we could to comfort the family.”
On the field before Oxford’s next home game against Cleveland East Side, the team presented a signed football to Sarah’s younger brother John and some flowers and a t-shirt to Sarah’s younger sister Lauren. Hill presented the family with the “12th Man Award.” The children’s mother Leigh Solomon remembers that moment fondly.
“I didn’t think I could walk out on that field that night, but I knew what it meant to my children,” Solomon said. “I was impressed by how beautifully it was done and what care the football team, the cheerleaders and the announcer took in remembering and celebrating my daughter’s life.”
Solomon broke down when the PA announcer said “Oxford High School senior Sarah Bial” as the football team were all kneeling on one knee.
“It meant everything to John,” she said. “He loves football, but these games (this season) are personal to him.”
According to Sarah’s obituary, she was a member of the National Honor Society and she enjoyed volunteerism, but “more than anything, enjoyed hanging out with her brother and sister.”
Lamar said the team wanted to do just a little more for the family, too. Hill ordered helmet decals that have Sarah’s initials “SB,” which were placed to the backs of the helmets.
“We wanted her to be part of the team,” Lamar said. “That way, none of us will forget about her. Every time any of us turn our helmets around, we see the sticker. That is definitely a motivation for all of us.”
Saturday, Oxford will play Picayune for the first state championship and undefeated season in school history. Hill is confident his team has what it takes to bring home the trophy.
“This game won’t be a fencing match, it will be a knife fight,” Hill said. “If we can keep our focus and remember what we put in this week, I like our chances, but it will take all we’ve got.”
Hill expects a good turnout of Oxford fans when the game kicks off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. But three fans will be cheering the loudest for the boys with “SB” on their helmets: Leigh Solomon and her children, John and Lauren.
“(The team has) played for Sarah, and we want to be there to support these amazing boys,” Solomon said. “They have truly wrapped their arms around me and my children and have sustained us. I don’t know how I could ever repay them or thank them enough for what they have done.”
— Adam Ganucheau
dmeditor@gmail.com
