Money Raised for Noah Ortiz Family After Edna High School Star Linebacker Dies In House Fire

Edna High School is most famous for hosting the notorious Stone Cold Steve Austin. However, the Jackson County public school is now in the news for a less glamorous, but more heartfelt reason. A fifteen-year-old boy, Noah Ortiz, of the school's football team, perished in a house fire while trying to save his young sisters. In turn, the community banded together to raise thousands for the family that lost so much.

This year, Edna High defeated Ingram Moore High in the New Braunfels's playoffs. However, with the loss of Ortiz hanging in the air, the victory didn't taste as sweet.

Noah was only a sophomore, but still made it onto the varsity team as a starting line backer.

Before the game, Noah's family was provided with a check that might as well have been signed by everyone in the bleachers. According to USA Today, the people of Edna stood strong behind the Ortiz family:

"Noah Ortiz, No. 50 for the Edna High School football team, [went] going back into his burning house to find his little sisters...he never made it out. The team on the other side of the ball raised more than $36,000 in just a week-not for footballs or camps, but to help the family that knows more about loss than anything that can happen on this field. The financial support is appreciated and the emotional support can't be compared, but the lesson learned is unmatched."

This story is both devastating and inspiring. It is rare to see so much love in one place, and according to KSAT, Coach Huey Chancelor thought Noah would have made a fine addition to the sport of football:

"He's one of those kids that you go looking for, the kind of kids you want to coach...He was one of those kinds of kids. He shows up, works hard and has a great attitude. So, I was really impressed. I always thought his family did a great job of raising him because when you meet young men like that, you think somebody is doing something right..."

These circumstances are hard to even describe in words, but in the end, the actions of the people in Edna are both soothing and therapuetic.