Chapin football team returns home after tragic weekend

The Chapin High School football team returned home Monday to a multi-school welcome gathering, after slick roads claimed the life of a player’s father on the way to the Saturday game in Amarillo.

It was an outpouring of support, as a very large extended family began the healing process.

“We had had something happen to one of our families that made me remember that this is just a game,” said Chapin Principal Carla Gonzales, who broke the news to the team Saturday in the locker room after the game.

“It sounded like everyone in that locker room had lost a father,” said senior team captain Merrick Martius.

But by blood, Hector Perales was the father of senior defensive end Elijah — the pepper to Martius’ salt, the captain said.

“My father isn’t usually here, and he doesn’t live with us, but every time we look out of the Huskie, I look for his father and so does he,” Martius said.

Saturday was the first time Merrick and Elijah didn’t see Hector in the stands — he and his wife normally donning their No. 41 jerseys in support of Elijah.

“And you just felt the love,” said James Bailey, who edits the Chapin football yearbook, “as he was just telling you about what he wanted on that page and how he put the page together, and it was just heartwarming.”

On the neighboring page, Elijah in his bio talked about the person who has had the biggest impact on his life.

“My Dad,” Elijah wrote, “taught me how to choose what matters, and be an honorable person.”

The Chapin booster club has switched its identity for the time being, Bailey said, to that of a family-readiness group to raise funds for the family from parents’ pockets.

“The Amarillo (High School) boosters have called, wanting to help with hotel costs and arrangements for the family as they stay,” Gonzales said.

Hector leaves behind a wife, younger son Noah, and Elijah — or as coaches call him, the new man of the house.

“And I think he’s going to carry on his father’s legacy, his father’s name,” said Chapin Head Coach Rene Hernandez. “Extremely, extremely proud of what he’s gonna do.”

The Perales family will likely be back from Amarillo next week, Gonzales said. Elijah’s grandparents are still hospitalized there.

Those wanting to help the family are asked to contact the Chapin booster club.