A Grande Prairie teen who survived a car crash that killed four of his classmates has begun breathing on his own after nearly two weeks.
Zach Judd was put into a medically-induced coma after the tragic accident on October 22 but has now started waking up, his brother Louis said.
"He's opening his eyes. He's moving around. He's doing good," Louis Judd told CTV News.
Judd's classmates and friends, Matt Deller, 16, Tanner Hildebrand, 15, Vincent Stover, 16 and Walter Borden-Wilkens, 15, were killed in an alleged drunk driving accident on October 22.
The teens were members of the Grande Prairie Composite High School Warriors football team, which took to the field in their second game without their teammates on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Rick Gilson said the news about Zach came at the perfect time.
"The fact that he woke up really lifted our spirits," Gilson said, "Lifted the spirits of the whole community.
"His timing couldn't be better, which was just like him on the field."
The match off between the Peace River Pioneers and the Grande Prairie Warriors was full of respect but also some tough competition.
The teams have meet in the Peace Bowl match for three of the last four years.
This year, the Warriors walked away with a 30-14 win over the Pioneers.
"We know they are here in spirit," The step father of Borden-Wilkens said at the game, "We just pray the best for everybody."
With files from Jessica Earle
