A high school student is fighting for his life after a car accident

CLAY COUNTY, WV (WSAZ) – One of the seniors on the Clay County football team’s roster is out for this Friday’s rivalry game against Braxton County.

Instead, Jacob Morton is fighting for his life.

BJ Williams is one of his friends.

“He didn’t want to play the game anymore, but now we have to play for him,” Williams said.

Jacob was in a car accident after school on Monday. His father rode in the ambulance with Jacob, not knowing if his son would survive. In the last few days during and after the surgery, Jacob is still struggling.

Matteo McKinney, also a senior, went to CAMC General Monday night to visit his teammate and lifelong friend.

“I didn’t expect that because Jacob is a tough fighter,” McKinney said. “It’s about just being there for each other and just doing it for him.”

Clay County football coach Jason Nichols said Jacob is known as “Salty” to those who know him, and he approaches life the way he plays on the field: ready to play and aggressive.

“That’s how he approached the football field. He’s ready to go, sometimes he jumps offside, then he says ‘sorry, sorry, sorry,’ then he jumps sideways again,” Nicholls said.

Jacob enjoys playing soccer, being a first-team all-state player last year.

After hearing good news after one of Jacob’s surgeries, Williams, McKinney and Nichols are somewhat relieved.

As Clay County High School football players head to Friday’s game at Braxton County, they said they’re playing for Jacob.

“Every time somebody makes a positive play, we’re going to acknowledge 54 (Jacob’s jersey number), but really we’re just going to play our best,” Williams said.

Nichols said Jacob wanted to play football in college.

“We don’t care about winning or losing. We are concerned about playing with the emotion and intensity that Solti played with,” Nichols said.

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