The rainbow caused by Wednesday evening’s rain seemed to be more than just a simple rainbow. This photo is not Photoshopped and shows the Field Youth Football varsity team practicing on Wednesday as the rainbow colorfully drops into their team huddle. The team has been playing with unimaginable heavy hearts after one of their teammates tragically passed away in a car accident last Friday.
Special to Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Brimfield and Suffield Townships, along with neighboring communities, continue to provide an outpouring of support in the aftermath of last Friday’s car accident that resulted in the death of Donald Robinson III.

Robinson III, 11, was a sixth-grader at Field Middle School and a member of the Field Youth Football varsity team.

As a result of the accident, Braydon Robinson, remains in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Braydon Robinson, a third-grader, also plays football for FYF.

Deian Longgood has donated this signed and framed Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey, which will be raffled off to a winner in the coming weeks. Tickets for the jersey raffle are $10 each and all proceeds generated will be donated to the Robinson family.
Sarah Pryor/Special to Portage Sports

At last Sunday’s youth football games, Robinson III, who wore No. 47, was honored in many ways, including helmet stickers and the Falcons’ teams standing at the 47-yard line for a 47-second moment of silence.

Area youth football programs from all around Portage County also showed support for the Robinson family in a variety of ways, including monetary donations from 50-50 raffles, signs, scoreboard memorials and the Crestwood team turned its jerseys inside out and taped the No. 47 on the chest of all its players.

Team meals have been provided to Field Youth Football over the last two nights at practice, with the Ziler family donating pizza, chips and drinks on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday night, Field High School alumni Deian Longgood and his wife Debra coordinated team meals donated by Edinburg Gionino’s, Jersey Mikes, Meijer and Little Caesars.

On Friday, Field High School has planned a memorial service to honor Robinson III prior to the start of the Falcons’ Metro Athletic Conference matchup with Streetsboro.

All Field youth football players and their parents will receive free tickets.

Diean Longgood is also extending his support further.

Longgood, the owner of Deez Barber Shop in Rootstown, has donated a framed Michael Jordan signed Chicago Bulls jersey. Tickets — $10 each — will be sold for the rare piece of memorabilia and a winner will be raffled off.

Longgood is attempting to work with the Field administration to allow for the tickets to be sold at Friday’s game at Kenneth Lohr Stadium.

For more information on how you can help the Robinson family, including information on the GoFundMe page created for the family, email fieldfalconsyouthfootball@gmail.com.