Right before opening day this September, right in front of them, their 16-year-old teammate and friend Jarred Romero died of a heart attack after one of the team's last preseason practices.

And although the team canceled its first game against Morrisville, originally scheduled for Sept. 2, they decided to make up the game this Saturday. As tough as it must have been to be reminded of the incident by having to replay the game, the young Richfield squad went out and beat Morrisville, 35-6 in their best game of the season.

The great part happened next.

After the game, the Morrisville team and school officials presented the Richfield players and coaches with all the proceeds generated from the game, as well as all raffle money to be put toward the Jarred Romero Scholarship Fund which has been established at the school.

The amount came to a few hundred dollars, but the generosity of the unexpected gesture helped to change what was undoubtedly a difficult event into a memorable moment of goodwill.

"The players were truly touched," said Richfield assistant coach Bruce Andrews. "Here we were feeling really good about beating them, and then they march up and present us money. I think it put things in perspective for us."

For the Richfield football team this year, the season hasn't been so much about winning and losing and scoring touchdowns, it's been about trying to find something positive in an almost unthinkable tragedy.

Joy and catastrophe tend to unite people who are otherwise on separate paths, reminding us of the things that are really important. Unfortunately, the moments of joy tend to be forgotten much more quickly.

But Saturday's game and the resulting grand gesture made by Morrisville emphasizes the fact that while catastrophe is a part of life, so is generosity. Sorrow never really disappears, but it can be eased by the thoughtfulness of others.