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Email a Friendtears streaming down my face. So beautiful!
Boy With Down Syndrome Scores 60-Yard Touchdown
a heart-warming tale of good sportsmanship and love
Posted by Danielle Bean in News on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 1:00 PM
Some high school football teams might find themselves losing a game 46-0 and see only defeat. But the team from Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo. saw an opportunity instead.
LifeSite News reports:
“Matt Ziesel, who has Down syndrome, is a freshman at Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo. Despite his disability he suits up for every football game and cheers on his teammates from the sidelines.”
When it became apparent that the Benton team would lose, Benton coach Dan McCamy approached the other team with a proposition: Let Matt score a touchdown.
Both teams were enthusiastic about the idea; the winning team gave up its shut-out and freshman Matt Ziesel scored a 60-yard touchdown to a cheering, applauding crowd.
In a note on YouTube, Matt’s family writes:
Matt is a special athlete who has Down Syndrome. He loves football and has grown up in an environment surrounded by sports. His father is a coach/ athletic director, and all his siblings play sports. He grew up at athletic events, and has always been a cheerleader. He registered as a freshman at Benton High School -Saint Joseph, MO this year, and told his mother and father he wanted to play football. The team takes good care of looking after Matt, and he is still the cheerleader on the sidelines. He puts his pads and helmet on, stands next to Coach McCamy and waits for his turn to play. Over and over during the course of the game Matt will say, “Coach McCamy, I am ready! I am ready Coach!” On this Monday night coach gave him a chance.
What a blessing Matt seems to be to his family, his school, and his team. This small loving gesture by the two football teams speaks volumes about the dignity and value of every human life.
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