The number 20 will not appear on a Zachary High School Broncos football jersey this season, but it will forever be carried in the hearts of every player who takes the field.

The team is honoring Je'Caryous "Jay" Johnson, a beloved teammate who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year, with a moving tribute that extends far beyond the football field. For Jay's mother Ashley, the outpouring of love from his football family has been overwhelming.

"Football was his life," Ashley says, reflecting on her son's passion for the game that brought him so much joy.

The Broncos have made Jay's legacy a permanent part of their program this season. Ashley says that while no Bronco team will list #20 on their official rosters this year, every player will be carrying Jay's memory with them. What moved her most, she said, was the outpouring of love—that's what brought her to tears.

The tribute extends throughout the entire Broncos organization. Even the junior Broncos are participating in the "Forever 20" initiative, wearing orange hearts with the number 20 inside on their jerseys. The gesture demonstrates how Jay's impact reached players across all levels of the program.

Perhaps most touching for Ashley has been the personal outreach from Jay's senior teammates. She said some of the players asked to take pictures with her holding his jersey. "It means so much to me," she says. "They are really keeping his name alive. They call and check on me, it's so unreal how they have so much love for him."

The senior class is taking their tribute a step further, creating commemorative sweatshirts in Jay's honor, ensuring his memory remains woven into the fabric of Zachary High football.

As the Broncos prepare for the upcoming season, they do so knowing they carry more than just their own dreams onto the field. They carry the memory of a teammate whose love for football matched their own, and whose spirit will be with them in every game, every practice, and every moment they step onto the gridiron.

For Ashley, watching her son's teammates honor his memory has provided comfort during an incredibly difficult time. The bonds forged on the football field have proven stronger than loss, creating a lasting legacy that ensures Jay's impact will be felt for years to come.

"They are really keeping his name alive," Ashley said again, demonstrating the power of a team that knows what it's like to be a family. 

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