Bowser High, Flag City Phantoms And Cleveland Cobras Honor Teen After Crash; Donation Leads To Seven Transplants

Kalida Teen’s Organ Donations Fuel Memorial Football Season, Saving Seven Lives

USA: Community members filled Bowser High School Friday night for a memorial football game that honored 19-year-old Jaeger Trey Burgege, a Kalida native who died in March after a motorcycle crash. The Flag City Phantoms faced the Cleveland Cobras in a game dedicated to Burgege’s longtime support of the team; teammates said the squad has carried his number and memory through the season. Players wore military-themed jerseys to recognize his plans to serve in the U.S. military.

Burgege’s family authorized the procurement of seven organs, a decision that led to multiple transplantations and lives saved. Organ donation became the central legacy celebrated at the event, with community leaders and teammates emphasizing transplantation as a concrete outcome of grief turned to generosity.

The Phantoms’ season-long dedication, organized by a player who is also Burgege’s uncle, provided a public outlet for mourning and solidarity. Coaches and classmates described the memorial game as part tribute and part healing, a way to keep his presence alive on the field he loved while marking the real-world impact of his final choice.

As the crowd honored Burgege’s energy, organizers framed his donation as both a personal and communal legacy: a young man’s plans for service and sport transformed into lifesaving transplants that will continue his story for years to come.

Video originally published on 2026-05-16 23:36:01