Rattlers pay tribute to fallen Dalhart player

Tucumcari High School athletes paid tribute to a fallen Dalhart football player last week, and players for the Rattlers football team will wear the player's No. 22 affixed to the back of their helmets the rest of the season.

Yahir Cancino, a sophomore on the junior varsity football team at Dalhart High School in Texas, suffered a head injury during a game on Sept. 1. He died of his injury a day later in a Lubbock hospital.

Dalhart canceled all sports events the weekend after Cancino's death. Not long after a candlelight vigil, messages hashtagged #YahirStrong and #DalhartStrong began appearing on social media.

Schools across the region encouraged students and teachers to wear purple in a show of support for Dalhart and the Cancino family, which Dalhart High School has posted on its Facebook page.

THS last week produced a short video with a speech by high school principal Nicole Bright-Lesly and emailed it to Dalhart High.

"We're your neighbors down U.S. 54 in New Mexico," Bright-Lesly said in the video. "Tucumcari High wants all of you to know you're in our thoughts and prayers today.

"We also wear purple and gold proudly, and today our students athletes are in uniform to honor your lost teammate, classmate and friend," she said as the video revealed Tucumcari football players wearing their game jerseys in the kneeling position. Athletes from other THS sports also were seen.

"Although we didn't know No. 22 personally, just know Yahir's memory is being honored today by the students at THS."

Bright-Lesly said the school's football players will wear No. 22 on their helmets for the rest of the 2022 season.

"We want you to know you're in our hearts as you continue the rest of your season," she said.

With that, the video ends when running back Daymion Uriose, who coincidentally wears No. 22 on his uniform, stands in silence.

Dalhart High School posted Tucumcari's video on its social media account and wrote: "It is hard to find the right words to say how grateful we are for the thoughts and prayers, love and support from so many schools, businesses, and communities from all over."

Tucumcari football coach Donnie Garcia said the No. 22 decals should be ready for his team's helmets by Friday's home game against Santa Rosa.

"I know it's not a whole lot, but right now it's the best we can do for them (at Dalhart)," he said.

Garcia said at least two players have suffered concussions this season, and what happened to Cancino is in the back of their minds and their teammates'.

"But if you don't play at 100%, there's an even bigger chance of you getting hurt," he said. "We try to protect you as much as we can as far as the equipment, and we just pray we can get through a game without injuries. Football is a contact sport, and it can be scary."