The College of San Mateo’s powerhouse football program is mourning this week after a single-car wreck killed one of its players and injured two others. On Monday morning, the Bulldogs football team announced that Jamarion “Pop” Grace, a 19-year-old defensive back from Fairfield, died over the weekend.
“He lit up every room he walked into with his infectious energy and smile, he had a way of making everyone around him feel special,” the football team’s post reads. “Whether he was dancing in the locker room, cracking jokes in team meetings, or showing up for his teammates off the field, Pop gave everything he had each and every day.”
A GoFundMe for his family described him as “more than just a son, grandson, brother, and friend. He was a light in the lives of everyone who had the blessing of knowing him. His presence brought love, laughter, warmth, and memories that his family and community will carry with them forever.”
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According to multiple reports, Grace’s death occurred in a single-car wreck in San Jose early Sunday morning. The school did not confirm a cause of death and has not responded to SFGATE’s requests for comment.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to a crash around 2 a.m. on Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road on Sunday, which killed a 19-year-old man from Fairfield and seriously injured the driver, a 19-year-old man from San Mateo. KNTV-TV was the first to report on the crash, and the San Francisco Chronicle was first to connect the crash to the CSM player’s death. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)
The CHP said its preliminary investigation suggests the driver lost control of the vehicle while heading northbound on Highway 101. The CHP is also asking any witnesses with information to come forward.
According to the Chronicle, three CSM football players were in the car when the crash occurred. The identities of the two players who were injured in the wreck have not been disclosed by the school, but one passenger has reportedly been released from the hospital. CSM head football coach Tim Tulloch shared an X post from a Monterey Herald reporter that said one of the players involved was wide receiver Kavon Collins from Monterey.
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Grace was a key player at Vanden High School in his hometown, helping lead the Vikings to a California Interscholastic Federation Division 3-A state championship in 2024 as a senior. Grace had three interceptions during that title-winning season, including two in the playoffs – one in the North Coast Section championship game and another in the Northern California regional championship. His former school posted a tribute to him on its social media pages on Monday.
Grace was considered a freshman at CSM this year and played in one of CSM’s four games so far this season, recording one tackle.
The Bulldogs football team has won the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) state championship in three of the last four years, including back-to-back titles. CSM is expected to compete for a title again this year, and it’s currently ranked No. 4 in the state with a 3-1 record.
The Bulldogs are next scheduled to play at home on Saturday against Diablo Valley College, another contender for the state title.
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This article originally published at Car crash kills College of San Mateo football player, injures 2 others.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
