The game was all but over.
Up 28-12, with about one minute left in the game, the Fenton Tigers were poised to hand the Brandon Blackhawks freshman football team their fifth loss of the season? when 15-year-old Tyler Fitzgerald entered the game.
‘So we put ‘Fitzy? in the backfield to run a couple of plays,? said Anthony McMillan, Fenton freshman head football coach. ‘He got tackled right in the backfield, the Brandon kids hit him pretty hard. I was set to let the clock run when the Brandon coach called a time-out with about 10 seconds remaining in the game.?
Jason Miller, Brandon freshman head football coach, and fifth grade teacher at Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School, had stopped the clock after overhearing two sideline officials, who were also parents of Fenton players, discuss Fitzgerald.
‘I heard them say he had Down’s Syndrome’and I figured if he had the courage and guts to play with those kids’he deserves to score a touchdown,? said Miller. ‘So I called the boys over to the sidelines and let them know the situation’they all agreed to let him run. I think a lot of kids that night realized they were going to make a big difference in some other kids life.?
Coach McMillan was notified of Miller’s plans.
‘The referee came over to me and asked to give number seven the ball,? said McMillan. ‘The referee said they are going to just let him score. It was the classiest act I’d ever seen of anyone and I’ve been in contact with sports for many years.?
The Fenton quarterback called a ?36 base? running play in the huddle and with Fitzgerald, as the lone setback, he was handed the ball.
‘Fitzy just stood there for a moment and took off down the sidelines,? said McMillan.
Brandon’s defensive team chased Fitzgerald down the field while Fenton’s players were throwing blocks.
‘I was just praying that none of our kids hit him as he ran down the field,? said Miller. ‘I’ve never run into a situation like this before it was truly surreal they way the kids responded.?
Fitzgerald was greeted in the end zone by the entire team, three of the his teammates lifted him up on their shoulders and carried him off.
‘I never asked the coach to let him score,? said McMillan. ‘At this point I had tears running down my cheeks’it finally set in just what happened.?
Tyler’s father Dwight Fitzgerald, a teacher at Fenton High School, for the past 32 years and former Fenton Junior Varsity Coach for the past 20 years was in the grandstands with his family Victoria, 5, and Ashtynn 3 when Tyler scored his touchdown.
‘Tyler does not get to play too often,? said Dwight. ‘It’s been a great thing for him’I have to give credit to the Brandon coaches on the other side of the field. That was a special thing to do.?
Dwight said that on Friday following Thursday’s game several of the Brandon Freshman players attended the Fenton-Brandon Varsity football game where Tyler’s older brother Alex starts as offensive guard.
‘Those Brandon kids came over to the Fenton side and sat with Tyler in the stands and hung out for awhile,? said Dwight. ‘I think those kids recognized they had done something very good.?
Michael Bakker, Fenton Athletic Director and Fenton Assistant High School Principal was overwhelmed by the Brandon team.
‘As athletic director, I can’t tell you how many events I go through during a year, and this action was a show of sportsmanship you only see in the movies. There was nothing pre-planned or pre meditated during that game, but the compassion and foresight demonstrated by those coaches and players was awesome. The lesson the Brandon team taught us at that game on Thursday night is truly unforgettable.?