"And Starting At Center, No. 70..."

Springboro seniors Billy Palcic (L), Chris Harwood & Keifer Campbell.

The idea began in the minds of some of Springboro’s senior football players: How could Shaun Frechette be honored Friday night when the Panthers host Lebanon on Senior Night?

Shaun has been with them in spirit all season long. The players already wear a No. 70 decal on their helmets, a tribute to a teammate they had played football with for many years.

“We don’t just play FOR him,” Boro head coach Ryan Wilhite says. “We like to believe we play WITH him.”

The thought was to do one final gesture on Senior Night, Friday, November 1, which coincidentally would be one year to the day Shaun died in a car accident.

Wilhite called senior center Chris Harwood with an idea just a few days ago: “How about wearing Shaun’s number 70 during the game?”

The idea blew Chris away, and he gets emotional just at the thought of it.

“Absolutely,” Chris responded. He will warm up in the No. 65 he has worn as starting center during the last two seasons. But, just before kickoff, he will change into the No. 70 Shaun used to wear.

“It’s an honor,” Chris says.

He felt a kinship with Shaun, because like fellow seniors Billy Palcic (left) and Keifer Campbell (far right), they were offensive linemen together.

Shaun most certainly would have been a starting lineman this season. Now, with the tribute Friday night, his No. 70 will be in the starting lineup.

The Frechette family was consulted about the request, and they gave their blessing.

Aiden Frechette is Shaun’s younger brother who is in the second grade. He plays pee wee football with Brayden Wilhite, Coach Wilhite’s son. When he heard the about Shaun’s jersey being worn Friday night, he ran up to Coach Wilhite like it was Christmas morning. “That is soooooo cool,” Aiden said.

Chris had only one condition when he accepted the task. “I don’t want anyone thinking I wanted to draw attention to me,” he told Wilhite.

It's a tribute to Shaun.

When Wilhite heard that, he couldn't help but smile. “That’s when we knew we had the right guy to do this,” he says.

Friday night was already going to be a special night. The Lebanon game is a rivalry even if both teams are 5-4, but it will be especially intense because the GWOC South championship is on the line, plus there are playoff implications.

And now there’s this tribute to Shaun.

There are so many reasons to celebrate the evening.

You might say there are 70 of them.