Coffee County (GA) lost a great young man Malik Sparkman at the age of 17. He lost his battle to kidney cancer and his teammates granted him his last wish of carrying him through the tunnel as a Trojan one last time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and community of Malik Sparkman and Coffee County.

As Malik Sparkman started to succumb to the final stages of kidney cancer, the 18-year-old linebacker told his high school teammates that he had one request: after he died, would they carry his coffin through the football tunnel? He wanted one last trip onto the field, a trip they'd taken so many times together.

The high school junior, who was reportedly being recruited by Florida State, passed away on May 17. Days later, his teammates granted this final wish. Wearing black jerseys, five teammates carried his coffin through the Coffee (Coffee County, Ga.) High School football field tunnel, across the field, and into the school, where more than 500 friends and family had gathered for a memorial service.

In photos posted on Facebook, the description says the boys “held their heads high until the video started showing a … clip of Malik." As their late friend's face appeared on the screen, the boys started to cry.

“Malik was certainly special to all of them,” Coffee County football coach Robby Pruitt told WALB. “Every time I called him and check on him, he'd always say 'I am great coach.'" Sparkman never complained about the pain, his coach added.

“He always said he wasn’t ever gonna give up, and God has him,” Sparkman's girlfriend, Tia Williams, told WSB-TV. “He was a fighter.”

Facebook and Twitter have been flooded with love and support for Sparkman and the community.

Rest in peace Malik Sparkman-- it was an honor to know you. #trojannation pic.twitter.com/GJU896Ah57 — Bailey Chambers (@baileynicole122) May 18, 2015

Our thoughts go out to FSU signee @88Dreamchaser and Malik's family as Nole Malik Sparkman lost his battle w/ cancer. pic.twitter.com/cfdCk3uOlo — FSU Gameday (@FlaStateGameday) May 18, 2015

“They’re hanging in there as a team. It brought their team closer. They’re strong,” Williams said. “They did take it hard at the funeral, but they know he’s not suffering anymore.”

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Danielle Elliot is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact her at delliot@yahoo-inc.com or find her on Twitter and Facebook.