The quarterback was injured during a Warren Hills game Sept. 25, 2015, and died of a lacerated spleen. Watch video
The memory of No. 18 is still strong.
On Sept. 25, 2015, Evan Murray -- the quarterback for the Warren Hills Regional High School Blue Streaks -- was helped to the sideline by teammates after taking some hits. He gave a thumbs-up before he was driven away in an ambulance.
Soon after, the 17-year-old had died of a lacerated spleen.
His death became national news, and the social media hashtag #18strong was used by mourning peers, rivals and well-wishers. New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi, performing overseas at the time, put Murray's No. 18 on his guitar.
One year later, the healing continues.
The school district in Washington Township last year established a scholarship in Murray's name. Warren Hills Superintendent Chip Clymer said district officials remain in contact with his family.
The family on Tuesday gave a brief statement thanking the community "for all the love and support over the last year."
There were no special tributes planned to mark the tragedy's anniversary, the superintendent said. Other proposals to honor Murrary -- such as renaming the football field or building a monument -- have not been acted upon.
"We're trying to move forward as best we can," Clymer said.
Evan Murray on being a Blue Streak
Still, #18strong appeared on social media once more over the weekend.
Students and others around the area remembered the pain of the days and weeks that followed.
i can't believe it's been a year already #18strong [?] [?] r.i.p evan
-- tay (@t_sultan101) September 26, 2016
One year with out you brother, goes to show time flys cherish every moment. Miss you ev #18strong [?][?]
-- Anthony Spiridig (@Meatball_O) September 26, 2016
Found this on my computer today. Always threw me those perfect balls... Think about you everyday buddy #18strong pic.twitter.com/Y9VjadLrXt
-- joey misener (@Misener_J15) September 25, 2016
spend today with friends and family... one year later and the whole community is still #18strong [?] [?] [?][?]
-- Katarina Knudsen (@knudsenkatarina) September 25, 2016
[?] [?][?] keep watching over our town #18strong
-- Lindsay Tichenor (@LindsTich) September 25, 2016
Clymer, who was the high school principal at the time, said the tragedy still holds personal meaning for him, as does the death of Colin Matthew Cudworth Jr., a Warren Hills freshman killed in a car crash two months earlier.
Walking the halls, you tend to develop a rapport with students, he explained. And when tragedy strikes, it hurts deeply.
"You've lost a student," he said.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.