Sports

Victory Day 2012: Touchdowns and Touching Moments (VIDEO)

Trenton High School hosted the 3rd annual Victory Day for over 60 cognitively and physically impaired children from Downriver schools.

The sound of banging drums and speakers echoing into the sky took over Farrer Field Saturday for a football game unlike any other played this season.

Much of the day was filled with sounds normally heard at a football game except the crack of a tackle was replaced with the sound of children laughing and realizing a lifelong dream of playing football -- it was .

Victory Day, created by , gives special needs children a chance to score a touchdown, with all the fan-fair of a real game.

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Llyod Carr, former head football coach for the University of Michigan, kicked the day off with a stirring tribute to Victory Day.

"It's not only growing here, but throughout this state and across the country," Carr said. "This idea has spread from here, and the guy who came up with that is a hero of mine -- Aaron Segedi."

Find out what's happening in Trenton Grosse Ilewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

All participants received jerseys donated by Nike, and boys received souvenir footballs while girls received pom poms.

The sidelines were packed with over 60 cognitively and physically impaired children clapping and cheering on one another as football players from area high schools took the field in unity to help each child score a touchdown.

The Trenton High School Marching Band played with all of the intensity of a real game and cheerleaders shouted spirited chants to spur on children as they crossed the goal line.

The day ended with a ceremony in which all participants were presented with a medal of achievement by Carr and Segedi.


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