Watson invites local hero to be special guest at Week 4 game

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson reached out on Monday to local high school student Jayden Payne and invited him to the team's Week 4 contest against the Carolina Panthers, as news of the youngster's heroic act continues to make headlines.

Payne faced Tropical Storm Imelda head-on last Thursday when he helped rescue a woman and her daughter out of a submerging vehicle, according to Adam Coleman of the Houston Chronicle.

The high school football player was on his way home when he saw the vehicle swerve into a ditch.

"I hurried up, threw my jacket off, I threw my shirt off," Payne said, according to Coleman. "I ran over there across in front of all the cars. I didn't care if all the cars stopped or not because I was more worried about their safety than my safety."

Payne jumped in the water and, with the help of two others, pulled the woman and her young daughter out of the bayou. He then stayed with the two in an effort to make sure they were OK before he departed.

"She was crying. She said, 'You're my guardian angel,'" Payne said of the mother. "I had to make sure two of God's children didn't die at an early age."

The youngster's display of bravery was first shared on social media by his football coaches. Watson saw the news a few days later and showed his appreciation with the invitation to Sunday's game.

"Jayden - you are a real-life hero!" Watson wrote.

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