NORTH CHARLESTON, SC. (THECOUNT) — Xavier Young, a former Stratford High School running back great, passed away Monday at age 22.

Young, a star high school football player, been battling cancer since late 2016.

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Young was a 2015 Stratford High School graduate and was a huge part of their football program, reports ABCNews4.

Coach Dennie McDaniel said the Goose Creek youth had overcame so much:

“Xavier was a great football player for our program, but an even better person,” McDaniel said. “He is someone that every coach dreams of having a player like him. Every time I picture him all I see is that smile he had. That smile was so infectious! I know he is smiling down us now!”

In September 2014, Live5News named Young the Live 5 Five-Star Player of the Week after Young rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns helping the Knights take down previously-undefeated Ashley Ridge with a 49-14 win. That victory helped his school move to 2-2 in the season.

Geo quick facts: Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek – Wikipedia.