Three E.E. Smith High School football players who died in a crash were remembered Tuesday evening in Cumberland County.
Trevor Merritt, Jai’Hyon Elliott and Nick Williams were honored at a football game between E.E. Smith and South View High School.
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The ceremony, which took place before the game, featured a balloon release, a moment of silence and a special presentation at South View High School ahead of kickoff.
Players from both teams presented the victims' families with helmets and sashes and South View presented them with a plaque honoring the three players.
“South View stands shoulder-to-shoulder with E.E. Smith during this time of heartbreak,” said Principal Phyliss Jackson. “This ceremony is not just about football—it is about family, unity, and reminding one another that we are stronger together.”
The game was postponed after the students were killed Wednesday night on the way to a birthday celebration for a friend after football practice. Larry Parker, principal for E.E. Smith High School, said the decision to play on Tuesday was made by fellow football players on the team.
"We take the cues from our students," Parker said. "We didn't want to rush them into anything at all just to keep a schedule. We wanted to make sure that we were taking cues from them, and they said they wanted to play."
Fayetteville police said the car crashed into a telephone pole on Rosehill Road, continued down a sidewalk and collided with a tree. Merritt, Elliott and Williams were all passengers. On Wednesday, police said excessive speed was the primary factor in the crash.
The driver, 21-year-old driver Dymond Monroe, was airlifted to Chapel Hill with serious injuries. Monroe's mother, Kenisha Lewis, said Monroe is a mom herself to a 7-month-old. Monroe is also a military veteran who left active duty in January.
As of Wednesday, Monroe was still in critical condition.
Lillie Davis, Elliott's grandmother, said her grandson had dreams of playing college football, adding that while the crash was devastating, the outpouring of support from those in Fayetteville has made things easier.
"It's been kind of rough for the family. But you know what? We persevere," Davis said. "Everybody is praying for us and our family for strength and peace. It has gotten better."
Hundreds of people attended a vigil over the weekend to remember the young men. Attendees said the three used to play at a park together long before they were teammates at E.E. Smith.
The city of Fayetteville is now planning to do a study on Rosehill Road where the crash happened. WRAL News has previously reported on several crashes in that area.
Funeral services for the three players will be held in the next few days.