Dylan Thomas’ #32 retired by Pirates

The Pirates football team dedicated the season to the late Dylan Thomas who would have been a senior this year during Friday night’s game. The Pirates retired his jersey, #32, in a stirring ceremony in which around 50 football players held jerseys with the number 32 on them. The jerseys were sent to his family and teammates after his tragic death following a football injury last season.Many of the jerseys were signed and sent by high school football teams, collegiate teams including Georgia and Georgia Tech and even NFL teams. Dylan’s family has been supported by the team and others across the nation since the unlikely injury that caused his death. Dylan’s father Darren Thomas was on the field Friday night with the Pirates football players to take part in the special ceremony honoring his son’s memory.’We retired Dylan’s number and the team wanted to dedicate this season to DT. They are playing for him this year and honoring his name and all that DT stood for,’ said head coach Brad Webber. ‘Dylan was an amazing athlete who is dearly missed. A piece of Dylan will always resonate in our hearts.’Dylan Thomas of Hollonville was a 16-year-old linebacker and running back for the Pirates last season when a brain injury occurred during a game against Peach County and he was transported to the hospital. He also played baseball and enjoy hunting and spending time outdoors. A scholarship in his memory will be presented to a Pike County High School senior.