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turbinetree

(24,632 posts)
Sat Nov 16, 2019, 08:05 PM Nov 2019

Football brings some peace to Sioux family after suicide

By STEPHEN GROVES today

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Teenagers Jashawn and Jayton Pease embraced in the end zone while celebrating the 74-39 victory that made their Crow Creek Chieftains the champions of South Dakota’s tribal school league. But as they hugged, tears streamed down their faces.

Jashawn, 15, pounded his fist against his chest and pointed toward the sky.

“I’m playing for my brother because he left for the spirit world,” he said.

In July 2018, J’von Justice Shields, who was 17 and who had played wide receiver for the Chieftains, killed himself. Left behind were his girlfriend, Brianne Saul, their young son, J’von’s seven brothers, and a team and community that are still trying to make sense of his loss.

https://apnews.com/63580716a97742bd9444cdc9b9dba062

-snip-

After the final whistle but before leaving the field, the Crow Creek players huddled and ended their season with a shout: “Family!”

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