Two Alabama high school football teams came together in early November not only to compete, but to ensure a student with Down syndrome had one of the best moments of his life.
Cold Springs senior Chris Myers took it to the house against Vinemont just before halftime in a custom-designed play that allowed him to run for a 50-yard touchdown. It was the very first touchdown of his high school career.
Once he got into the end zone, he threw the ball into the air and celebrated with his own teammates, the opposing team and even the referees as the crowd on both sides cheered wildly.
“You can see the spirit of Cold Springs all over Chris,” coach Rod Elliott told the Cullman Times. “Our community has special people, and it’s a special place because of that. He’s going to wake up tomorrow and remember this for a ways to come.”
Elliott was the one who called Vinemont to suggest the gesture.
“Coach called me last week and told me the situation. I told him I’d love to be a part of that,” Vinemont head coach Stephen Robinson said. “It’s awesome. I thought it showed a lot of class and character. They all encouraged him and ran out on the field with him. I’m honored he would include us in something like that. It was pretty awesome.”
According to ABC3340, Myers was diagnosed with Down syndrome a week after he was born.
“We’ve had our ups and downs with him, but [he’s] very loving. I don’t think there’s a moment I’ve seen him with a bad side. He’s always happy go lucky,” said his father, Christopher Nathaniel Myers, said.
Vinemont went on to win 34-0 in the final game of the season, and even though Myers’ touchdown didn’t make it onto the scoreboard, no one could write a better ending.
