Hempfield Area Football Team Honors Player Killed In Crash

Hempfield Area High School paid tribute to 18-year-old Joe Halley at Friday's game.

The Spartans football team dedicated its game against Norwin to Halley and presented his parents with Halley’s No. 72 game jersey.

Halley, who would have been a senior this year, played nose tackle.

“Football was his life. He was one of the kids during the game that was pacing up and down the sidelines watching every little play. He knew every play for every position. He practiced, and he had more heart than anybody,” said Halley’s friend, Kyle Zaverl.

Halley was killed in May when he lost control of his vehicle and collided head-on with another car on Route 119 in Hempfield Township.