Video: High school senior with Down syndrome scores touchdown
By Jason Hall
Published:
A high school senior with Down syndome scored a touchdown in his school’s football game Friday. Robby Heil, a senior at Novi High School in Novi, Michigan, ran in a 36-yard touchdown during his team’s game against South Lyon East.
Head coach Jeff Brunside worked together with the coach of the opposing school to have Heil, who is also the team’s water boy, come into the game and score on a play that wouldn’t count on the scoreboard, but would provide him with a lasting memory.
“He had a grin from side to side when I told him,” Burnside told The Detroit News. “I’m so glad the East kids were here. Coach Pesci (of the opposing team) is an outstanding human being, very classy kids. They came up with the idea of giving Robby a signed jersey. It was better than I could even have imagined. It was just outstanding.”
Heil’s mother, Debbie Heil, who is terminally ill with bone cancer, told WXZY Detroit that she was extremely emotional and overjoyed watching her son.
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
