SPRINGDALE -- Following the tragic death of Springdale High football star Kyler Williams on Saturday, plans are in place to honor and celebrate his life today, and with events planned across Northwest Arkansas on Friday.
Williams' funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today at Christian Life Cathedral in Fayetteville.
[PHOTOS: Kyler Williams through the years]
He was killed Saturday night in a single-vehicle accident about five miles south of U.S. 412 near Marble. He was driving a 2002 Suzuki north on Arkansas 21 when the vehicle left the roadway and overturned several times before he was ejected, according to a fatal crash summary from Arkansas State Police. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene, said Jarred Rogers, Madison County coroner.
"I got to know (Kyler) a bit. I don't have a kid on the team, but I feel like they're all my kids," said Zach Arns, lead play-by-play voice on the Bulldog Sports Network. "I know them, talk to them. He was the best I've ever seen."
The Bulldogs football team, as well as all 7A-West Conference schools and both Fort Smith Northside and Southside, will recognize the receiver the remainder of the season with "K3W" helmet stickers. Springdale coach Zak Clark said there will also be a tribute prior to Springdale's game at Springdale Har-Ber on Friday.
Other area schools will also honor Williams this week. Student sections across the region will hold "Red Out" themes for Williams, his family and the Springdale community.
More than $33,500 has been donated to the Kyler Williams Memorial Fund in just two days, more than doubling the goal of $15,000. The GoFundMe page for Williams set up by the Bulldog Football program has been shared more than 4,800 times.
"Just on a personal level, he could relate to anybody. He had friends from all walks of life," Clark said. "He was truly an amazing kid. I've had the good fortune to coach a lot of good ones first hand, and he's certainly the best I've seen. He could make you miss in a phonebooth."
In his final game in a Bulldog uniform last Friday against Rogers Heritage, Williams totaled the second-most receiving yards (265) in a single game in Springdale High history, topping his own mark of 264 yards in a nonconference game against Bixby, Okla., in 2015. Both efforts go down as top-10 performances in terms of yardage in 7A-West history.
He was also named the ARPreps.com Athlete of the Week for a second time this season on Tuesday.
Williams, following a 933-yard, five-touchdown junior season that merited an All-State selection, was well on his way to more honors. In four games in 2016, he caught 31 passes for 575 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sports on 09/28/2016