OREGON, Ohio — For the past four years, the memory of Lukas Mason has continued to hold strong throughout the city of Oregon.
On June 11, 2020, Mason was leaving Clay High School to attend a baseball game with his mother. As he attempted to cross Seaman Road, a vehicle struck Mason while on his bicycle and killed him.
Ever since his death, childhood friends Mason Heintschel and Troy Hazuda came up with the idea to wear jersey numbers 6 and 3 in his honor, as he wore #63 as a center in junior high.
Fast forward to Friday night and the emotions of his passing came back to the forefront. Inside Clay Memorial Stadium, 29 seniors were recognized pregame. Mason marked the 30th and final name to be read off as his mother, Jodie Mason, walked alongside her husband, son, Heintschel and Hazuda.
"The effect he's had on so many lives is immeasurable," Mason said.
When the game kicked off, Clay decided to bring his jersey onto the field for the first offensive snap against Rogers. Yet, instead of running a play, the 10 players stood in unison to pay homage to their fellow teammate.
"As a grieving mother, your worst fear is that your child is forgotten," Mason said. "You continue to grieve every single day, but for the rest of the world life goes on and that's a hard reality to deal with."
The Oregon community did not move on. Instead, they've stood side by side with Mason's family on a mission to never forget.
"His mom is in the stands every game," Hazuda, a wide receiver, said. "It's important now that we're seniors, it's kind of our last ride altogether, to honor him while we're on the field."
Over the past four years, Hazuda and Heintschel have performed as a stellar tandem on the field, leading Clay to its first league championship this season since 1982. The Eagles finished undefeated in the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division to claim the title, and through it all only two numbers have remained constant: 6 and 3.
"It's something small but it really means a whole lot," said Heintschel, a senior quarterback. "It's definitely carried on through all the years and it's been a special part of this group. It's been special for us."
The duo helped lead their team to a 70-26 victory on senior night. Clay improved to a record of 8-2, its most wins since 2004, and will compete in the OHSAA Division II playoffs next week.
"Every time I see Mason throw that ball to Troy, I think of that connection that's always been there," Jodie Mason said. "Lukas was a huge part of that connection."
Over in Perrysburg, her son's presence also lives on through another fellow offensive lineman. Eric Bush grew up playing with Mason and wears #63 himself.
"He was one of my first teammates, so wearing his number is a way of gratitude toward him," Bush said, "Feels like he's always with me wherever I go."
Although doctors declared Mason had no brain activity following the collision, according to his mother, he remained on life support as the family considered organ donation. After agreeing to offer up his healthy organs, three days later, Mason took part in a "Hero Walk" at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo in front of dozens of family and friends.
His loss of life though allowed six others to live. Mason's lungs went to a sick person in need and he even helped someone else restore their eyesight. The biggest impact though occurred when 13-year-old Sarae Randolph, of Lansing, Michigan, received Mason's heart.
"On paper, that looks one way but it's different seeing a real-life human being in front of you whose life has been forever changed. I think you really see the gift," Jodie Mason said.
Sarae recently graduated high school and met the family for the first time on Friday before the game, exchanging tears while also providing an opportunity for Mason's mother to hear her son's heartbeat, a meaningful reminder of the purpose he still serves.
"There's certain things that happen and you're like 'it's him, it's his power,'" Heintschel said. "Him being able to reach into us and send us a message from up there. He's a special person to us."
His fellow childhood friends share in that sentiment as they too still miss their loving friend.
"He was a very great person and someone who was gone too soon," Bush said. "Just shows the effect he had on the Oregon community."
Hazuda added "There's some things we definitely miss from him. Obviously, on the field, he was a great athlete but off the field as well. I think about him every day."
At Jerusalem Elementary School near Curtice, where Mason's mother teaches, the "Lukas League" serves as another reminder of his life. It stands for "League Of Upstanding Kindness At School" and promotes treating others well just as Mason did.
"The fact people are still embracing his spirit and name, it's emotional but also makes me happy," Mason said.
