CONCORD, N.C. -- Friends and family are supporting a UNC-Chapel Hill student who's known for supporting the Tar Heels.

Senior Jason Ray of Concord has been the Tar Heels mascot for the past three years. Friday afternoon before UNC's Sweet Sixteen game against the University of Southern California, Ray was struck by a car in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He was listed in critical condition at Hakensack University Medical Center Saturday night.

Eyewitness News spoke to Ray's longtime pastor in Concord Saturday. Mike Wood said Ray was active in church and even preached a sermon when he was in junior high school. "He's the kind of kid that every parent wants their kid to grow up to be," Wood said.

The father of Ray's roommate said the two students had formed a band outside of school. "It's like a son is in trouble," said Don Burns, "he's really precious to us."

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