Justin Ayers Myspace page
Justin was all set to go to basic training when he died unexpectedly.
Justin had a very close relationship with God and attended church regularly.
He was very loved and is dearly missed.
--------------------------------------------
St. Petersburg Times (FL) - November 20, 2008
TEEN'S 'STRONG HEART' INSPIRED
Had he wished, Justin Ayers could've transferred from his winless football team at River Ridge High to a more successful one with virtual impunity. Happens all the time these days. Friends on rival teams even courted him.
He had trudged through consecutive winless seasons as a sophomore and junior, and knew full well greener turf lay elsewhere. His grandfather, a longtime football coach at the local grass-roots level, had even put out feelers to other schools, with favorable feedback. It was to no avail.
"He just decided he'd been at River Ridge and had a lot of friends at River Ridge and didn't want to change," said Richard Ayers who, with wife Coral, raised Justin for most of the last decade. "He was no angel and made mistakes and done wrong. But all in all he was a good kid."
And true to his alma mater until the sudden, shocking end.
At some point Saturday morning, Justin Heath Ayers, who graduated in June, died mysteriously at a friend's home. The night before, he had traveled across the county to watch River Ridge defeat Wesley Chapel in overtime.
He was 18. Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll said an overdose of some sort is suspected, but the case remains under investigation. Richard Ayers said an autopsy has been performed, and he and the family are awaiting toxicology reports.
Richard Ayers said Justin, preparing to enter the Navy, had undergone three mandatory drug screenings "with no problems," and had taken a physical Friday morning. A student at Pasco-Hernando Community College, he also was studying to become an emergency medical technician.
"It's a tremendous loss and a tragedy," River Ridge third-year football coach Tim Stevens said. "It's a horrible thing. He was a great kid and good football player and never in trouble over here. He was one of our captains."
Stevens said Ayers visited him at a Knights practice Nov. 11 and "seemed great."
"He was healthy as a horse," Richard added.
At River Ridge, he was a workhorse. Long snapper, linebacker, tailback - Ayers played any position to which he was summoned. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third game of his junior year, he returned in time for a 50-0 season-opening win against Sunlake the following year.
That win snapped River Ridge's 26-game losing streak. It would be the only victory of his prep varsity career.
"I just didn't want to jump ship like everyone else did, because a lot of people left," Ayers told the Times days after that win. "We would've had a pretty bomb team if everyone had stayed and stuck it out another couple of years."
Former Knights quarterback Blake Spinks, who also stuck it out with his classmate, recalled Ayers as an admired, stabilizing force within the team. Off the field, he had a passion for water sports, fishing, skateboarding and the family four-wheelers.
The adventurous spirit also was spiritual, a churchgoer who would mildly rebuke his grandpa when he let a profanity slip.
"He was amazing," said Spinks, a redshirt freshman at Division II Brevard (N.C.) College. "He'd help us any way he could. He was someone to look up to, to lead us. He was always honest about everything.
"He had a strong heart."
St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Date: November 20, 2008
Author: JOEY KNIGHT
Edition: NORTH
Page: 1
Record Number: 0422029770
2008 St. Petersburg Times
Justin was all set to go to basic training when he died unexpectedly.
Justin had a very close relationship with God and attended church regularly.
He was very loved and is dearly missed.
--------------------------------------------
St. Petersburg Times (FL) - November 20, 2008
TEEN'S 'STRONG HEART' INSPIRED
Had he wished, Justin Ayers could've transferred from his winless football team at River Ridge High to a more successful one with virtual impunity. Happens all the time these days. Friends on rival teams even courted him.
He had trudged through consecutive winless seasons as a sophomore and junior, and knew full well greener turf lay elsewhere. His grandfather, a longtime football coach at the local grass-roots level, had even put out feelers to other schools, with favorable feedback. It was to no avail.
"He just decided he'd been at River Ridge and had a lot of friends at River Ridge and didn't want to change," said Richard Ayers who, with wife Coral, raised Justin for most of the last decade. "He was no angel and made mistakes and done wrong. But all in all he was a good kid."
And true to his alma mater until the sudden, shocking end.
At some point Saturday morning, Justin Heath Ayers, who graduated in June, died mysteriously at a friend's home. The night before, he had traveled across the county to watch River Ridge defeat Wesley Chapel in overtime.
He was 18. Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll said an overdose of some sort is suspected, but the case remains under investigation. Richard Ayers said an autopsy has been performed, and he and the family are awaiting toxicology reports.
Richard Ayers said Justin, preparing to enter the Navy, had undergone three mandatory drug screenings "with no problems," and had taken a physical Friday morning. A student at Pasco-Hernando Community College, he also was studying to become an emergency medical technician.
"It's a tremendous loss and a tragedy," River Ridge third-year football coach Tim Stevens said. "It's a horrible thing. He was a great kid and good football player and never in trouble over here. He was one of our captains."
Stevens said Ayers visited him at a Knights practice Nov. 11 and "seemed great."
"He was healthy as a horse," Richard added.
At River Ridge, he was a workhorse. Long snapper, linebacker, tailback - Ayers played any position to which he was summoned. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third game of his junior year, he returned in time for a 50-0 season-opening win against Sunlake the following year.
That win snapped River Ridge's 26-game losing streak. It would be the only victory of his prep varsity career.
"I just didn't want to jump ship like everyone else did, because a lot of people left," Ayers told the Times days after that win. "We would've had a pretty bomb team if everyone had stayed and stuck it out another couple of years."
Former Knights quarterback Blake Spinks, who also stuck it out with his classmate, recalled Ayers as an admired, stabilizing force within the team. Off the field, he had a passion for water sports, fishing, skateboarding and the family four-wheelers.
The adventurous spirit also was spiritual, a churchgoer who would mildly rebuke his grandpa when he let a profanity slip.
"He was amazing," said Spinks, a redshirt freshman at Division II Brevard (N.C.) College. "He'd help us any way he could. He was someone to look up to, to lead us. He was always honest about everything.
"He had a strong heart."
St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Date: November 20, 2008
Author: JOEY KNIGHT
Edition: NORTH
Page: 1
Record Number: 0422029770
2008 St. Petersburg Times
Justin Ayers Myspace page
Justin was all set to go to basic training when he died unexpectedly.
Justin had a very close relationship with God and attended church regularly.
He was very loved and is dearly missed.
--------------------------------------------
St. Petersburg Times (FL) - November 20, 2008
TEEN'S 'STRONG HEART' INSPIRED
Had he wished, Justin Ayers could've transferred from his winless football team at River Ridge High to a more successful one with virtual impunity. Happens all the time these days. Friends on rival teams even courted him.
He had trudged through consecutive winless seasons as a sophomore and junior, and knew full well greener turf lay elsewhere. His grandfather, a longtime football coach at the local grass-roots level, had even put out feelers to other schools, with favorable feedback. It was to no avail.
"He just decided he'd been at River Ridge and had a lot of friends at River Ridge and didn't want to change," said Richard Ayers who, with wife Coral, raised Justin for most of the last decade. "He was no angel and made mistakes and done wrong. But all in all he was a good kid."
And true to his alma mater until the sudden, shocking end.
At some point Saturday morning, Justin Heath Ayers, who graduated in June, died mysteriously at a friend's home. The night before, he had traveled across the county to watch River Ridge defeat Wesley Chapel in overtime.
He was 18. Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll said an overdose of some sort is suspected, but the case remains under investigation. Richard Ayers said an autopsy has been performed, and he and the family are awaiting toxicology reports.
Richard Ayers said Justin, preparing to enter the Navy, had undergone three mandatory drug screenings "with no problems," and had taken a physical Friday morning. A student at Pasco-Hernando Community College, he also was studying to become an emergency medical technician.
"It's a tremendous loss and a tragedy," River Ridge third-year football coach Tim Stevens said. "It's a horrible thing. He was a great kid and good football player and never in trouble over here. He was one of our captains."
Stevens said Ayers visited him at a Knights practice Nov. 11 and "seemed great."
"He was healthy as a horse," Richard added.
At River Ridge, he was a workhorse. Long snapper, linebacker, tailback - Ayers played any position to which he was summoned. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third game of his junior year, he returned in time for a 50-0 season-opening win against Sunlake the following year.
That win snapped River Ridge's 26-game losing streak. It would be the only victory of his prep varsity career.
"I just didn't want to jump ship like everyone else did, because a lot of people left," Ayers told the Times days after that win. "We would've had a pretty bomb team if everyone had stayed and stuck it out another couple of years."
Former Knights quarterback Blake Spinks, who also stuck it out with his classmate, recalled Ayers as an admired, stabilizing force within the team. Off the field, he had a passion for water sports, fishing, skateboarding and the family four-wheelers.
The adventurous spirit also was spiritual, a churchgoer who would mildly rebuke his grandpa when he let a profanity slip.
"He was amazing," said Spinks, a redshirt freshman at Division II Brevard (N.C.) College. "He'd help us any way he could. He was someone to look up to, to lead us. He was always honest about everything.
"He had a strong heart."
St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Date: November 20, 2008
Author: JOEY KNIGHT
Edition: NORTH
Page: 1
Record Number: 0422029770
2008 St. Petersburg Times
Justin was all set to go to basic training when he died unexpectedly.
Justin had a very close relationship with God and attended church regularly.
He was very loved and is dearly missed.
--------------------------------------------
St. Petersburg Times (FL) - November 20, 2008
TEEN'S 'STRONG HEART' INSPIRED
Had he wished, Justin Ayers could've transferred from his winless football team at River Ridge High to a more successful one with virtual impunity. Happens all the time these days. Friends on rival teams even courted him.
He had trudged through consecutive winless seasons as a sophomore and junior, and knew full well greener turf lay elsewhere. His grandfather, a longtime football coach at the local grass-roots level, had even put out feelers to other schools, with favorable feedback. It was to no avail.
"He just decided he'd been at River Ridge and had a lot of friends at River Ridge and didn't want to change," said Richard Ayers who, with wife Coral, raised Justin for most of the last decade. "He was no angel and made mistakes and done wrong. But all in all he was a good kid."
And true to his alma mater until the sudden, shocking end.
At some point Saturday morning, Justin Heath Ayers, who graduated in June, died mysteriously at a friend's home. The night before, he had traveled across the county to watch River Ridge defeat Wesley Chapel in overtime.
He was 18. Pasco County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll said an overdose of some sort is suspected, but the case remains under investigation. Richard Ayers said an autopsy has been performed, and he and the family are awaiting toxicology reports.
Richard Ayers said Justin, preparing to enter the Navy, had undergone three mandatory drug screenings "with no problems," and had taken a physical Friday morning. A student at Pasco-Hernando Community College, he also was studying to become an emergency medical technician.
"It's a tremendous loss and a tragedy," River Ridge third-year football coach Tim Stevens said. "It's a horrible thing. He was a great kid and good football player and never in trouble over here. He was one of our captains."
Stevens said Ayers visited him at a Knights practice Nov. 11 and "seemed great."
"He was healthy as a horse," Richard added.
At River Ridge, he was a workhorse. Long snapper, linebacker, tailback - Ayers played any position to which he was summoned. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third game of his junior year, he returned in time for a 50-0 season-opening win against Sunlake the following year.
That win snapped River Ridge's 26-game losing streak. It would be the only victory of his prep varsity career.
"I just didn't want to jump ship like everyone else did, because a lot of people left," Ayers told the Times days after that win. "We would've had a pretty bomb team if everyone had stayed and stuck it out another couple of years."
Former Knights quarterback Blake Spinks, who also stuck it out with his classmate, recalled Ayers as an admired, stabilizing force within the team. Off the field, he had a passion for water sports, fishing, skateboarding and the family four-wheelers.
The adventurous spirit also was spiritual, a churchgoer who would mildly rebuke his grandpa when he let a profanity slip.
"He was amazing," said Spinks, a redshirt freshman at Division II Brevard (N.C.) College. "He'd help us any way he could. He was someone to look up to, to lead us. He was always honest about everything.
"He had a strong heart."
St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Date: November 20, 2008
Author: JOEY KNIGHT
Edition: NORTH
Page: 1
Record Number: 0422029770
2008 St. Petersburg Times
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