Young Hanover Football Player Makes Dream Tackle Despite Rare Disease
HANOVER (CBS) – Gavin Gill of Hanover has a strong passion for football. He's only eight years old, but he's determined, focused and knows how to win.
Gavin has been diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome, an extremely rare birth defect in which there is no cure.
"Cognitive delays, very low muscle tone, so he would never play an organized sport. He would get hurt," Gavin's dad Brian Gill said.
On Sunday he lined up with his teammates from the Hanover youth football team and made the bravest tackle of his career in the final seconds of the game against Scituate.
At first the play was designed for him to score but Gavin had another play in mind.
"He kept saying no, no, I want to tackle. Not run, tackle. And the entire team on Scituate was raising their hands willing to help," Brian Gill said.
When the whistle blew with all his might, Gavin tackled not just one but two players from Scituate.
"I tackled them. It was fun," Gavin said.
The entire crowd cheered for Gavin.
"There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd. He's all about defense. He's a part of the team and he wanted to make that tackle," assistant head coach Kevin Bradley said.
On this day both teams walked away winners.
"You can't explain what it does for us," Brian Gill said.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON