Helmet Decals, Moment Of Silence to Honor Evan Murray On N.J. Football Fields

Support is growing across New Jersey for the high school football quarterback who died last Friday after suffering a lacerated spleen during a game in Warren County.

Evan Murray, 17, the Warren Hills Blue Streaks quarterback, took a hit in the backfield, but went to the sideline on his own power. He was later taken to Morristown Medical Center where he died from a laceration of his spleen, which was already enlarged, according to a medical examiner.

The high school football community, shaken by the incident, will be supporting the Blue Streaks and Murray this weekend, as teams in the Mid-State 38 Conference (of which Warren Hills is a member) and Greater Middlesex County Conference will be wearing No. 18 helmet decals, according to Scott Kaye, sales representative for Riddell Sports Equipment.

Along with the two conferences, 20 other assorted schools and some youth football teams in the area will be using the decals as well, Kaye said.

“Hopefully this will help the Warren Hills extended family and the NJ football community start to heal after this terrible tragedy,” Kaye told Patch.

Those teams will also hold a moment of silence either before the game or 18 minutes into play, mycentraljersey.com reported. Riddell has donated 6,000 decals to the 60 schools participating, the report said.

See related:

• WATCH: In Honor of Evan Murray
• Autopsy Results Released for High School Football Player Who Died After On-Field Hit
• Funeral Services Set for High School Football Player Who Died After On-Field Hit
• Football Player Who Died Walked Off Field After Tackle: Report
• N.J. Football Player’s Death Remains Mystery As Mournful Students Return
• Petition Seeks to Name Field for Football Player Who Died After On-Field Hit

Warren Hills High School and middle schools will be closed Thursday for Murray’s funeral, the district’s website announced. A viewing for Murray was scheduled for Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m.

The Blue Streaks Homecoming game originally scheduled against Voorhees for Friday night has been moved to Saturday night, and homecoming festivities – which Murray was scheduled to take part in – have been postponed until a later date.

Lauren Case, a wife of one of Murray’s coaches, made a video tribute to the teen that was posted to YouTube earlier this week, stating, “because, like many, I just don’t know what to do in … this time of heartache and tragedy.”

An online petition was also created to change the Blue Streaks field name to Evan Murray Memorial Field. A target of 5,000 signatures has nearly been reached, with 4,469 supporters electronically signing.

A GoFundMe page was setup to help Murray’s family, which has raised $59,165 in four days, surpassing its $50,000 goal.

Pictured: Helmet decal honoring Evan Murray. Photo Courtesy Scott Kaye / Riddell