LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — You may not catch it on SportsCenter and you probably won’t see the replay on Sunday Night Football, but, this pure joy on the gridiron could possibly be one of the most important moments in football you’ll watch this season.
What played out on a small field in Lakeland is a little boy’s dreams coming true.
At four years old, this avid football fan had one goal in his young life – to score a touchdown.
While his physical capabilities prohibit him from doing that, Keylan Haggins’ spirit is larger than life. In his tiny body lies the spirit of a quarterback and the soul of a warrior.
Week after week, he watches from the sideline as his older brother plays football for the Lakeland Lumberjacks team.
But, “KD,” as they call him, desperately wanted to make his own play of the week. Everyone knew this young boy deserved a chance at glory. So, they brainstormed to make it happen. And, when it played out last weekend, there wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium.
Little Keylan had no idea that he was about to go from the sidelines to the field, surrounded by friends, teammates and a coach that wanted nothing more than to see a little boy smile.
Amidst cheers, smiles and tears, the crowd escorted his wheelchair all the way to the end-zone. His face lit up as he scored his touchdown, beaming with pride and excitement.
“It brought a tear to my eye to watch it happen and be a part of it,” said Lumberjacks Coach Leeman Brown. “We saw him smile, and that made it all worth it.”
