A COMPETE WITH CLASS MOMENT AT A JV FOOTBALL GAME

Athletes, and the sports fans who watch them, love to witness those heart-warming plays.  Whether it’s your team or the opponent, everyone can appreciate a Compete with Class moment.  One of those moments happened on Tuesday.

It was a junior varsity football game between Cibola High School and Cleveland High School.  Cibola sophomore Derek Barrera is a Special Needs student/athlete with Down Syndrome.  This is his second year with the football team.  He works out with the team every day at 6am and head coach James Carroll thought Derek should be rewarded for all of his hard work.

At one point in the game, Derek was put in at running back.  Derek got the handoff and rushed downfield with the ball securely in his hands.  He went ten yards, 20 yards, then 30 yards.  Players on both sidelines started running alongside Derek to the endzone.  Derek went 80 yards for the touchdown!  Both teams were excited for Derek and cheering loudly after what they just witnessed.

“I was super proud of Derek and his ability to run such a long distance and show off his skills,” said Coach Carroll.  “The giant smile on Derek’s face any time he gets to carry the ball says it all.”

Congratulations Derek and congratulations to Cibola and Cleveland for showing what it means to Compete with Class.