Cancer Patient's Pee Wee Football Team Heading To Semis With Him On Their Minds
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - A Pee Wee football team from Fort Collins CBS4 first reported on last week is on its way to the Dallas area to compete in their league's semifinals.
They're forced to play without a starting player -- an 11-year-old who doctors recently diagnosed with cancer.
Since CBS4 last talked with Jackson Simpson and the Northern Colorado Outlaws, the team scored a big win, and so did Simpson. His chemotherapy is working so far.
And the adversity the Outlaws are facing seems only to making the team stronger.
It might rain in Dallas on Saturday, so at their final practice before the big game, the Outlaws tossed around soaked footballs, and they reviewed their defensive lineup. But when asking Simpson what his Pop Warner team really needs to do to win its championship qualifying game, something else comes to mind.
"Have teamwork and stick together," he said.
Simpson says it's the bond they share that gives them their edge.
"They are the best of friends, they will go through anything for each other."
Anything, right now, includes Simpson's chemotherapy for a malignant tumor the size of a softball. Doctors found it in his chest.
"Everybody was emotional about Jackson, and when we found out we practiced harder and we hit harder," Simpson's teammate Mason Shattuck said.
The team fought harder, and so did Simpson. His tumor is shrinking, the Outlaws are winning, and they play each game with a new slogan: "This one's for Jackson."
"They're there with me, through chemo and all the procedures," Simpson said.
The Outlaws face their Texas opponent on Saturday in College Station. Simpson will be home in Colorado continuing treatment and cheering them on. If they win they move on to the Pop Warner Super Bowl.
