CHARACTER COUNTS

Autistic Rutgers fan sets record for longest touchdown in spring game

Apr 15, 2018, 11:17 AM

A five-year-old autistic Rutgers football fan had the opportunity of a lifetime Saturday during the team’s Scarlet and White Spring Game.

Mordecai Carthy is a patient at the RWJBarnabas Health’s children’s hospital, a medical facility partnered with Rutgers University in New Jersey.

A huge fan of the Knights football team, Mordecai took the field with some of his favorite players at the end of the spring game.

Receiving pats on the back and words of encouragement, he entered the offensive huddle before lining up in the backfield with Rutgers running back Raheem Blackshear.

With the ball on his own seven-yard line, Mordecai took the handoff from quarterback Giovanni Rescigno, dodging tacklers on his way down the field.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as he crossed the goal line for the 93-yard score, the longest in Rutgers team history.

The rest of the Knights huddled around him in the endzone, lifting the new record holder onto their shoulders.

Mordecai was all smiles as he received high fives for his epic run from fellow Knights.

“Yeah, it was actually just some really good moves by the ballcarrier,” Rutgers coach Chris Ash said of Mordecai’s run after the spring game.

“He had some nifty feet, made some guys miss and then he had some breakaway speed there at the end to get into the end zone.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Character Counts

Paris Johnson Jr. looks on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Paris Johnson Jr. eyeing ways to extend his foundation’s reach in Arizona

Don't let his age fool you, Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. is no stranger to giving back to the communities around him.

8 days ago

Runners take off after the starting gun at Pat's Run in Tempe. The race, will be run on April 13 th...

Character Counts

The 20th annual Pat’s Run set take place in Tempe on April 13

The 20th iteration of Pat's Run is set to take place in Tempe on April 13 to honor the life and legacy of Pat Tillman.

12 days ago

Follow @AZSports...

Character Counts

Bradley Beal hooked up Devin Booker fans who supported Suns in Denver

Suns fans who showed up to in Devin Booker jerseys at Ball Arena in Denver got a special gift from Bradley Beal afterward.

22 days ago

Aani Nagaiah, front row far right, is the winner among 10 finalists for the 2024 Character Counts s...

Character Counts

Arcadia senior wins 2024 Character Counts Scholarship

Arcadia's Aani Nagaiah on Wednesday night was presented as the winner of the 2024 Character Counts scholarship courtesy of Parker & Sons.

28 days ago

ASU's HBE uniforms...

Arizona Sports

Arizona State basketball fans can now rock Sun Devils’ HBE jerseys

Arizona State basketball's Honoring Black Excellence jerseys are being released to fans for the first time this month.

1 month ago

Baltimore Ravens tighe end Mark Andrews...

Character Counts

Ravens TE, diabetes advocate Mark Andrews helped woman during health scare on flight

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who has Type 1 diabetes, helped a woman during a medical emergency on a flight to Arizona.

2 months ago

Autistic Rutgers fan sets record for longest touchdown in spring game