In Warsaw, Ohio, a community where the roar of high school football lights up Friday nights, tragedy struck the River View Black Bears community last weekend.
Junior quarterback Gavin Huff, a rising star wearing number 9, was involved in a serious car crash that left everyone holding their breath.
The 16-year-old from Warsaw, who had just started turning heads on the field this 2024 season, now faces a battle that’s testing the strength of his small town.
The news broke late Saturday night through the River View Black Bear Football Facebook page, a hub for fans tracking every snap and score.
Coach Tyler McKee, with the family’s blessing, shared the gut-wrenching update.
News Spread Quickly in the Muskingum Valley League as Rivalries Faded in the Face of Real Pain
Even before the sun came up on Sunday, messages of unity poured in.
The JGHS Muskie Football fans, from a team that shares the gridiron battles with River View, didn’t hesitate.
They posted-:
“Muskie Nation, I’m saddened to share that Gavin Huff, the QB from River View, was injured in an accident last night, “We don’t have much information but ask that all the Muskies out there say a prayer for Gavin, his family and his community. River View, our thoughts and prayers are with you. If we can help in any way, please let us know.”
Via Facebook
Coach McKee doubled down on the call to action in his own words:
“Calling all prayer warriors. Please lift Gavin and his family during this time. We will have a community prayer at 3 pm for Gavin with the team and anyone who wants to join us at the football field. Details are limited right now, but we are going to do what we can right now and the best thing, is to lay everything down before God and pray.”
Via Facebook
The Tri-Valley Yearbook page perfectly captured the spirit of the league, reminding everyone that beneath the helmets and highlights, these teams are truly a family.
“We may be rivals on fields, courts and gyms but the MVL at base level is a family that supports one another in good times like State playoffs and bad times like serious accidents, Please consider attending this prayer gathering today at three.”
Via Facebook
By 3 p.m. that Sunday, the 50-yard line at River View’s field wasn’t just a spot on the turf—it became a sacred circle of hope.
Dozens gathered under a gray Ohio sky, hands clasped, voices lifted in prayer.
Players in their Black Bears hoodies stood shoulder to shoulder with parents, teachers, and folks from neighboring towns.
Tears mixed with shared stories of Gavin’s quick feet and quicker smile, the kind of kid who lit up huddles with his energy.
Coach McKee posted later that evening.
“What an outpouring of emotion for Gavin Huff today! Prayers, tears, laughs, anger, sadness….a complete gamut of emotions! It was great to be able to go over and see him at the hospital. We took him the sign, football, and potted plant (Thanks Denim!). I won’t share too much but he is in an induced coma so he can rest. He is in recovery mode now then will be in rehab mode later. Thankfully Ducky is still with us but has a long road ahead. We will share later about donations for the family and a food train for when they come home. Thank you to everyone that came out today and prayed with us and thank you for all of the prayers and messages through this page. ONE TEAM.”
Via Facebook
Ducky, Gavin’s loyal dog, a fixture at practices and a mascot in his own right, had also been in the car, pulling through with injuries that mirror his young owner’s fight.
The detail tugged at hearts, a reminder that even the smallest family members carry pieces of our story.
Gavin’s crash happened on a winding stretch of rural road near Warsaw, the kind where headlights cut through fog and one wrong turn changes everything.
Details Remain Private, Out of respect for the Family.
But locals whisper of icy patches and bad luck, the cruel randomness that no playbook can prepare you for.
Gavin wasn’t just any player. Since stepping into the quarterback role this year, he’d been a spark for the Black Bears, slinging passes with the poise of someone twice his age.
At 6 feet tall with a build honed from summer camps and weight room grinds, he dreamed big, maybe college ball, maybe more.
Off the field, he was the Warsaw kid who mowed lawns for extra cash and volunteered at church events, the one his teammates called “Huffy” with a grin.
His family, rooted deep in Coshocton County soil, has suffered quietly, leaning on neighbors who’ve brought casseroles and quiet company.
As the days go on, the Gavin Huff car crash has woven the River View community tighter than any championship run.
The Black Bears’ next game looms, but practices now start with a huddle prayer, Gavin’s jersey hung in the locker room like a beacon.
In a world that often feels too big and too fast, stories like this pull us back to what’s real: kids chasing dreams under Friday lights, communities that show up when sirens fade.
Gavin’s road is long, lined with beeps of monitors and cheers from the sidelines. But if Sunday’s gathering is any sign, he’s not walking it alone.
Bear Country and all of MVL Nation are right there, one prayer, one step at a time. Keep fighting, Huffy.
