RHS students gather around as many offer up prayers for Austin Kitterman. Photo by Bart Moss.

By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

An entire community came together Sunday night to pray for Russellville High School junior Austin Kitterman, who was seriously injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident early Sunday morning.

Scores of students, teachers, and community members poured into Tiger Stadium for the 8 p.m. prayer vigil held for the football standout who has been described as a leader for this year’s Golden Tiger team.

According to officials, Kitterman was a passenger in an ATV that crashed on Franklin 34 at the intersection of Franklin 40 in the East Franklin community at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday.

Officials said Kitterman was airlifted from the scene and transported to Huntsville Hospital where he immediately underwent surgery for his injuries, including head and brain trauma.

Russellville head football coach Mark Heaton said Monday that he had spoken with Kitterman’s mother and that he was doing better.

“He was doing better today and was awake and alert,” Heaton said.

A Facebook page called “Pray for Austin ‘Kitty’ Kitterman” has been set up by close friends of the family and offers a place for the community to share their thoughts and support for the Kitterman family.

According to updates posted on the page, “there is no more bleeding and the pressure in his skull is down to 13.”

Another update on the public forum stated that Kitterman “was also able to open his eyes for the doctor this morning.”

He is still listed in critical condition in the neurological intensive care unit at Huntsville Hospital, and Heaton urged the community to continue to pray.

Heaton, who spoke at the Sunday evening prayer vigil, said the community has come together over this incident and he hopes it will continue.

“We need everybody’s prayers for him, his family, and for this community,” Heaton said.

“We need to stay close and stay together as a community and help each other through this.”

Shortly after the news of the accident began to circulate, the community began to rally around Kitterman and his family. Messages on Twitter and Facebook began circulating asking others to “#PrayforAustin” and word was spread about the prayer vigil.

At the service, students, teammates, and members of the coaching staff led students in prayer for Kitterman and for his family.

Heaton said he is grateful that the football program is filled with good people.

“I’m thankful for the godly men on the staff,” Heaton said. “It was good to be there with each other today and to be there for each other.

“We have several youth ministers involved with the program so that’s a great thing in a situation like this. We’re going to all do the best we can and stay strong through all of this and we all need to keep praying for Austin and his family.”

Heaton said the team had their regular Sunday meeting at 2 p.m., and he said the team was glad to all be together. They face a tough region game against the undefeated East Limestone on the road Friday.

“We came together as a team and discussed our duties moving forward—our duties as a team and our duties to him,” Heaton said.

“This is an extremely difficult situation to deal with and we’ve all got jobs to do. We’re going to trust in the Lord and trust that Austin is in his hands.”

Heaton said that Kitterman’s younger brother, Houston, could possibly be a part of team activities for Friday night’s game at East Limestone.

“If he is available to be there, we are going to let him fill in for Austin at coin toss,” Heaton said.

“We plan on doing the best we can and that won’t change. Austin would want it this way and we want to honor him in the way we prepare and handle this.”