SAN MARCOS - The Mission Hills High School football stands were filled Sunday afternoon with teens and parents praying for critically injured prep football player Scott "Scotty" Eveland.

At midfield, a dozen high school students and pastors from local churches took turns leading an estimated 1,000 people in prayer for the 17-year-old player, who collapsed early in the second quarter of a game against West Hills High School on Sept. 14.

Scotty was still in critical condition in a coma Sunday night, according to Andy Hoang, spokesman for Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, where Scotty is hospitalized.

Organized by the local faith-based prayer organization Moms In Touch, the Vigil of Hope gave football players and area residents a chance to support the fallen high school senior and his family.

Mission Hills Principal Bruce Lichtman opened the somber proceedings with a short message, noting that the last week has been a remarkable one in the lives of the Eveland family, as well as the school and the community as a whole.

"I'm used to seeing a sea of cardinal and gold, but today I'm seeing colors from all of the other schools, too," he said, referring to students from schools around the county wearing letterman jackets, cheerleader sweaters and prep T-shirts. "Yes, Scotty was a great athlete and student, but he was a son, a grandson, a brother, a friend and so many other things to so many people."

After thanking Moms In Touch and the local faith-based community that put together Sunday's prayer vigil, Lichtman added, "The family is so grateful to all of you who have prayed and visited them and helped Scott to get better and come back to this field."

While a couple of students read psalms from the Bible, pastors took turns leading the assembly in prayer. One of the most moving moments was when Bob Bishop, pastor of Mission Hills Church in San Marcos, talked about the enormous impact Scotty has had in his life, including changing the school dress code by introducing so many students to his favorite polo shirts.

"I have never seen a community gather like this," he said in a more serious note. "And Scotty is still doing it, even from his hospital bed now."

Shelly Erickson, treasurer of the Mission Hills High Football Boosters, handed out pins with cardinal red and gold ribbons - the school's colors - with a small football cut out and Scotty's number 54 written on each to the crowd.

"A bunch of us were up late cutting ribbon and putting these together," Erickson said. Even without a child on the football team this year, she said she "just couldn't walk away" and not help.

"And my husband helped, too, because he said it was for Scott," she said.

Suzi Ott, president of the booster club, was on hand to help in her way, too - by handing out orange Home Depot pails to those collecting notes that would be later compiled and bound together to give to Scotty's family as an expression of sympathy.

"We just want to tell them our prayers are with him and his family," she said simply. "And that we want him to wake up."

San Marcos resident Carol Kranz was also at the vigil. Kranz is a member of Moms In Touch, whose members pray regularly for Mission Hills students and families.

"We're here just to comfort the family," Kranz said. "People really struggle at times like this. And when things are out of control, we go to Him - He who always is always in control."

Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 740-3527 or rwebster@nctimes.com.