All Cynthia Payne could do was pray.

On a rainy, September day in Houston as Tropical Storm Imelda pushed through, sitting in the car with her son Jayden in the back seat across the street from Aldine High School, she watched as a car plunged into a ditch full of rushing water.

Next, her 16-year-old son Jayden rushed across the street and dove in to save a mother and her child.

"I knew God had him there for a reason. I told God just use him and give him back," Cynthia said. "That's all I asked. I can't replace him."

When Jayden saw the car head into the water, the junior tight end for Aldine football didn't think. Instead of pulling out his phone to record video – he reacted.

"I was like, I'm just going to run over there and put my life at risk because I felt like their lives were more precious," Jayden told VYPE the day of the storm. "She had her daughter with her. I'd rather save her life and risk mine for that. It was just a moment for me."