09/23 - 7:00 PM Football Final Complete Box Score »

Isaih Pacheco is just a senior in high school.

Yet this week, he suffered what many people would consider an unthinkable loss for the second time in a year.

Pacheco's sister was shot to death on Wednesday, a year after his brother was stabbed and killed.

Three days after his sister’s passing, Pacheco moved on the only way he knew how. He played a football game.

Not only did he play, Vineland's starting quarterback – a Rutgers commit – ran for 222 yards and an 80 yard-touchdown and threw for a 6-yard score on a fourth-down play to lead the Fighting Clan past Egg Harbor, 42-6, on Friday night.

PACHECO: Poster boy for Vineland's success

“I was really strong about it,” said Pacheco. “I wanted to make it out to practice (Friday), get things off my mind and be there with my brothers. It meant a lot for me they played for my sister and family and city tonight.

“They gave me the game ball to give to my family, and I really appreciate it from them and everybody out here who supported me.”

It was Pacheco that set up the game’s first touchdown with a 51-yard run, threw the TD to put the Fighting Clan up two scores with his clutch throw and broke free for runs of 28 and 21 yards as Vineland scored in the final minute of the second quarter to put Vineland up 22-0.

He iced the game with an 80-yard TD run after the break, all while playing with a heavy heart.

His sister, Celeste Cannon, 24, was shot and killed in Millville Wednesday and was found in her home. She is the mother of three children and an investigation into her death is ongoing.

“We don’t know what happened yet, we just know she was murdered,” said Pacheco. “It’s been a hard year for me. My brother was stabbed to death last year. He was (in his 20s) and he was murdered by my other sister’s boyfriend. It's just been horrible.

"My grandmother passed right after my brother. I’ve just been trying to be there for my mom. It’s been hard for my mom and my family. I’m just trying to stay strong and keep working hard and make it to the next level. I know any time I have the opportunity to be on the field, they’ll be looking over me.”

Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Find the NJ.com High School Football page on Facebook by following this link.