Barbe High School will pay tribute to former Bucs football player Hunter Brown before their District 3-5A home game tonight against Sam Houston.

Brown died unexpectedly on Jan. 9 after collapsing from a medical emergency upon leaving his dorm to attend classes at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was a Cadet 3rd Class and sophomore offensive lineman for the Falcons football team.

Head coach Skeet Owens said he expects the ceremony to start at 6:50 p.m. There will be an honor guard, tribute speech, moment of silence and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Office motorcade, he said.

“He was kind of quiet and funny off the field, but when he stepped across those lines he was relentless,” Owens said. “And I mean relentless — from whistle to whistle.

“He was an extremely hard worker and a great kid. When the lights came on and the whistle blew, there was no mercy. He was good. He would give you the shirt off his back, and humble too.

“We ordered some Hunter Brown stickers, and, hopefully they will be in (before the game),and we will put them on our helmets to honor him. It should be special.”

Brown was majoring in business management and minoring in French at the Academy and planned to become a pilot.

Air Force is wearing HB79 stickers on its helmets this season to honor Brown, and his family was presented a commemorative game ball after the Falcons’ 13-3 win over Sam Houston State on Sept. 8.

At Barbe, Brown played football, baseball and threw the shot put for the track team. He was named to the American Press All-Southwest Big Schools team in 2019 and graduated in 2020.