Youth football team holds prayer vigil for teammates injured in grisly crash

By David Iversen, Reporter
Feb 13, 2025

Teachers, parents and coaches huddled around kids on the Copper Sky practice field last night. The kids wore their jerseys, but they weren’t there for practice. They were rallying around teammates still fighting for their lives in a nearby hospital.

On Feb. 8, a four-car, head-on crash on State Route 238 in Maricopa sent six people to the hospital. Five of those injured played for the Puma football team, according to a player parent. Two people suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Maricopa Police Department. One car had several children. The other was driven by an unidentified woman

Some of those injured were kids as young as 5.

Coaches from the Maricopa Pumas, an all-volunteer youth football team, organized the prayer because two of those injured were on the team.

12U coach Ryan Portee led the players in a run and prayer.

Ryan Portee leads vigil for injured Maricopa Pumas player. Feb. 12, 2025 [David Iversen]

Evangeline Cobb, the CEO of Maricopa Pumas Youth Football and Cheer, called into the vigil from the hospital. Teammates saw the hospitalized child open his eyes from a hospital bed. Many were seeing him for the first time since the accident. Cobb told vigil attendees that the child is improving.

“We’re all here for you,” said CFO Kristin Jepson as she held the phone up to show the crowd.

Coaches hold up phone to show support to Cobb family impacted by car crash. Feb. 12, 2025. [David Iversen]

Players and the cheer team, The Lady Pumas, signed posters for the recovering players. Parents donated cash and gifts to help the families affected.

City leaders were at the field last night and expressed interest in helping the coaches navigate the tragedy.

Maricopa Pumas coaches and parents embrace at a vigil for injured players. Feb. 13, 2025 [David Iversen]

David Iversen, Reporter

A seasoned investigative journalist, David has worked across broadcast, print, podcasts and documentaries. His podcast, The Line, won a DuPont Award in 2021. A Columbia Journalism School graduate, David arrived in Maricopa in 2021.