I bet nobody would’ve ever thought that a middle school football game would be able to bring a good ol’ fashion smile to your face, warm your heart, and give you a reason to believe in the youth of today.
But the Olivet Eagles middle school football team from Olivet, Michigan just pulled that off last month with what some are calling the most inspirational football play of all time.
Without the coach’s knowledge, the team came up with a secret play for teammate Keith Orr, a boy with special needs, to score a touchdown. The boys wanted to show that Keith “was part of our team and that he meant a lot to us,” as one of the boys explained.
At one point in the game, fans were dismayed to see an Eagle player intentionally down the ball only a yard before the end zone, reported CBS News. Fans knew something unusual was about to happen when the team called their next play the “Keith Special”.
Video footage shows teammates handing the hiked ball to Keith who, surrounded by a veritable bodyguard, rushes the ball across the line to score a touchdown.
Most moving was the cool-kid-jock Justice Miller, the football team’s wide receiver, who related with tears streaming down his face how including Keith in the game made him start caring about people other than himself.
Justice told CBS News that helping Keith score was not his idea.
“I would not have thought about that,” said Miller, adding that it would have never crossed his mind to give Keith any glory. “I went from mostly caring about myself and my friends to caring about everyone and trying to make everyone’s day in everyone’s life.”
Reporter Steve Hartman even appears to get choked up by the end of the story.
Thousands of viewers have nothing but high praise for the boys’ team spirit.
“So proud of those young boys. We need more like you,” commented Geri Jansen in a sentiment expressed by many of the commenters.
“Wow something great in this world still. Maybe there's hope for the future of mankind,” wrote Jim Hannigan.
“There still are hearts that can Love! tks. for sharing…made me cry,” wrote Patricia Goad.
Diane Grogan said it best: “Wow, it really restores your faith in mankind. Thanks.”