Nease scores big with second annual ‘Victory Day’

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Dozens of touchdowns were scored on the Nease Panthers last Friday afternoon, and that’s exactly the way they wanted it.

The Nease football team and coaches held their second annual “Victory Day,” which allows young students with disabilities to compete in drills with Nease football players. The students from Valley Ridge Academy, Timberlin Creek Elementary and Wards Creek Elementary participated in exercises, tried on equipment, scored touchdowns and ate lunch with the players.

Nease coach Tim Krause suggested the event to the school, and the Panthers held the “Victory Day” for the second year in a row.

“I met a coach that did something very similar at a small school in Michigan,” Krause said. “We kind of took the idea and I brought it to our district office, and they were gracious enough to help and organize it and make it work on our scale and what we want to do.”

It was obvious by the smiles on their faces and their excitement that the young students had a blast with the Panthers’ football team, but Krause said it was just as meaningful to the players.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “The fun part for us is to see the joy on both faces. Obviously, we’re doing this event for them and they have a great time, but I think our kids get just as much out of it.”