Dylan Lamprey, Good Shepherd Rams:

The Good Shepherd Football program is nominating Dylan Lamprey for the 2010 Spirit of Football Award. Dylan is a 2010 Peewee for the Rams, #14.  This is Dylan’s first year to play football for Good Shepherd, and he has been an inspiration to us all.  The 2010 Peewee team had its share of ups and downs, finishing with a 2 – 6 record against a rough schedule.  However they managed to make the playoffs in the National League.  This weekend, they opened off with an awesome 19-6 win over Seven Sorrows, a team that had defeated them 0-19 in the regular season!  In addition to several tackles, Dylan had a nice 30 yard TD run up the middle to help his team achieve victory.  For Dylan, “victory” is every moment he’s on the football field. What most folks don’t know is that at age 2, Dylan was involved in an accident where he sustained a severe injury. His right foot had to be amputated. He also lost three fingers on his right hand.  He was told he would never walk again. It truly has been a long road for Dylan to get to where he is today.  You are hard-pressed to see signs of his injury when you watch him play. He’s an exceptional athlete and leader on the team. He sticks his nose on tackles, and he gets crunched when he runs plays that don’t work. He zigs. He zags. Up he pops after each play. And the lefty can heave the ball better than most 9 year olds.  The highlight of this year was the game with Saint Joseph. After four quarters and almost two overtimes, the game came down to one play.  Good Shepherd had the ball and one more try from inside the ten - one chance to win a tie game. The play was called and Dylan, the QB, rolled left. He evaded a tackler and tossed the ball toward the end zone. The fans held their breaths. It was caught by his teammate, Connor Trumpy, for the TD and the win. The crowd went wild!  Dylan is a great young man, with blonde hair, freckles and a contagious smile. He brightens your day.  I was initially hesitant about recognizing Dylan for this award. My initial feeling was that he might not want special attention. All his life, he has simply desired be “one of the gang”. I asked his father about it and he simply said, “Dylan’s OK with it”.  That is a pretty mature way to look at it. Yes, Dylan is OK, and doing great playing a game that he loves. We’re all so proud of you, Dylan!

Chance Dorman, Greenwood Buffaloes:

GNMFA Buffaloes (Greenwood Newport Midget Football Association) would like to nominate Chance Dorman for the Commissioners Spirit of Football Award.  For the past 6 years Chance has attended all football practices and games.  During the first five years, he would stand on the sidelines cheering on the teams.  Hew would tell his parents "I am going to play football".  Everywhere Chance would go you would see a smile on his face and people always calling out to him by name.  Several years Chance dressed up as the "Buffalo" Mascot.  As the 2010 season started, Chance was at practices.  After one of the practices, Chance looked at his mom and said "I need to be out there". Our head midget coach Barry Donbaugh got him suited up and has included Chance in all of the Midget teams training and games.  The team and fans all look forward to "Chance's Play" of the game.  None of this has been an easy road for Chance.  Chance was born with a neuromigrational birth defect.  The left side of his brain did not form correctly or completely.  He has cerebral palsy which is right side affected. When he was a baby, his parents were told not to expect him to walk, talk, or even know who they were.  He had epilepsy with seizures that occurred every 3 to five days that lasted 30 to 50 minutes at a time. He has surpassed everything that was expected of him.  He learned to walk on his own when he was 5 years old and has not slowed down since. On August 8, 2008, he has a left hemispherectomy.  The removal of the left side of his brain at John Hopkins in Baltimore.  He was in the hospital for 10 days and rehab fro 11 days.  He walked out of rehab on his own, not in a wheel chair.  Since surgery, he has not had one single seizure.  His ability to learn has skyrodketed full speed ahead.  He is now in the 6th grade, is learning his time tables, plays a drum in the band and can read.  Things that were not possible before surgery because there was just to much activity going on in his brain for him to be able to concentrate.  He loves life and is excited to be part of anything and everything.  Chance is an inspiration to all of us.  Next year, Chance will b moving on to the Junior  high program.  Chance is well deserving of the 2010 Commissioners Spirit of Football Award.  Thank you for your consideration of Chance Dorman for this prestigious award.