Friends mourn East Bay quarterback

[East Bay High School football players Geoffrey Haynes and Matt Brown fight back tears as they talk about Rex Ballenger Jr. Skip O'Rourke | Times]

GIBSONTON -- East Bay High football players and their coach remembered Rex Ballenger Jr. today as a scrappy quarterback who taught them how to play better football and kept their mood upbeat.

The school is reeling from the death of Ballenger, 18, who crashed his Saturn on Saturday into the rear of stopped semitrailer truck on Big Bend Road and U.S. 41. Ballenger was not wearing a seat belt. His life support system was turned off Monday at Tampa General Hospital.

More than 200 students have visited crisis counselors brought in by the school, principal Sharon Morris said. Teammate Matt Brown solemnly recalled the atmosphere among Ballenger's friends on Monday.

"Everyone was just waiting in silence," said Brown. "Then we got a text (message)."

Another teammate, junior Geoff Hayes, praised Ballenger's leadership. "He could tell you what to do and how to do it," said Geoff, 17. "It won't be the same without him."

Details of a memorial service could emerge by this afternoon. Rex Ballenger Sr., 48, said he would prefer a celebratory party to a funeral service. Sitting on a concrete bench outside East Bay High this morning, Ballenger said his son's death should serve as a lesson to other teenage drivers.

"If you're a kid, man, make a decision," Ballenger said. "Think about Rex. Put your seat belt on."

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-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer