ENTERPRISE — West Lincoln and Enterprise paused for a moment of silence as linemen Jack Rippy, Prewitt Falvey, Preston Mooneyham and Elijah Fuller locked arms and held the jersey of sophomore Tyler Cothern between them. Enterprise played their hearts out and won 38-8 for Tyler and his older brother Jaden Cothern, a senior, and other members of the Cothern family. 

Tyler died in a car crash in East Lincoln County Thursday night. He was 15 years old, Lincoln County Coroner Blake Wallace said. 

Enterprise Head Coach Trey Woodard said he started coaching Tyler a couple of years ago when he started playing junior high. He said Tyler’s older brother Jaden has played for him since he was in seventh grade, he is a senior this season. Hunter Cothern was the oldest and graduated before Woodard took over the program. 

“He was a great kid and really athletic. Like most kids, he liked being with his friends and he liked to fish. He and his brothers were really close,” Woodard said. “He just wanted to have fun.”

The loss of Tyler rocked the program which is off to a phenomenal start. Woodard said he has tried to build a program where the players feel comfortable talking about any struggles and being there for each other. They will work through this tragedy together. 

“For Jaden we are there for him and let him know he doesn’t have to go through this alone. Same for the young kids who knew him,” Woodard said. “The younger guys were hit pretty hard. You have to be there as a team, you are a family so you don’t try to take it on alone.”

Senior leadership echoed the same feelings of being there for others. Falvey, a senior, reminded the student body they didn’t have to go through this hard time alone in a pep rally Friday morning. 

Woodard said his seniors did a great job of being there for the younger players on the team. Before Friday’s game against West Lincoln, Enterprise’s football team visited the Cothern family. 

The team has a true brotherhood and will look to keep playing for No. 70 and the Cothern family.