North Texas

Teen with Special Needs Scores Winning Touchdown

For Lone Oak teen, football is more than just a game

A touchdown brought North Texas football fans to their feet Wednesday and taught a priceless lesson in sportsmanship along the way.

Charlie Wilkins, 14, is an eighth grader with special needs at Lone Oak Middle School and a member of the school's football team.

"At the beginning of every day, we see Charlie at school, and he asks, 'Coach, when are you going to put me in?'" said Lone Oak football coach Matt Brennan.

Charlie's moment came Wednesday night in the school's game against friendly rival Grand Saline Middle School. The Lone Oak Buffaloes were winning the game, and with the cooperation of Grand Saline, the coaches put Charlie in.

His teammates gathered around Charlie, and he led the stampede to score the game-ending touchdown.

The moment was captured on social media by several parents in the crowd.

"I saw an entire team and community come together and cheer on somebody who had a dream of playing football," said Lone Oak principal Shannon Wilhite.

Charlie's mother, Tammy McName, said she was in tears while watching.

"When he was younger he was in a wheelchair. Now there's no wheelchair and he gets the chance to do something that your average child gets to do," she said.

"In small towns like this you have to stay close as a family, work together, and I feel like we had a lot of that last night," said Charlie's teammate and friend, Spencer Mohundro.

Charlie didn't just win the game. He won hearts, proving football is more than just a game. It can help highlight the best of a community.

"It's more than a moment," McName said. "It's a lot of memories. Something that will be remembered for the rest of his life."

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