A run to remember
SOUTH CENTRE TWP. — Freshman Anthony Long has given everything he's got to Central Columbia's junior high football team for three years. In turn, coach Steve Toczylousky wanted to give Long a token of appreciation for his hard work.
It all accumulated Monday evening against Bloomsburg. Coming out of halftime, Central quarterback Gunner Vargeson handed the ball off to Long, a life skills student, who went 5 yards untouched for a touchdown. Long was mobbed by teammates, many of whom ran from the sidelines. They couldn't contain their excitement for their team manager, who forever became a teammate with the scoring play.
"The whole thing has been keeping it quiet all week because his teammates have been so excited," Toczylousky said. "... They've been firing him up all week. In practice, they let him fire through the hole and they dive out of the way for him acting like he stiff-armed him or something.
"When we were in the huddle at halftime, they were asking 'Can we storm the field?' and we knew we couldn't stop them with this one. Anthony has a special relationship with everybody and all the guys just love having him around."
Long's teammates weren't the only ones bursting with joy -- Long had the biggest smile as he ran through a gap of Bloomsburg defenders for the score.
"It was fun," Long said. "I scored a touchdown."
When Long was done celebrating the moment with his teammates, he ran directly to his friends and family sitting along the front rows of the stands behind the Blue Jays' sideline. They congratulated the 15-year-old, who suffers from an intellectual disability and had something discovered on his brain and recently his eyes, according to his mother Amy Kindrew. His family took pictures in the immediate aftermath and postgame with Long in his No. 65 jersey — something Toczylousky is hoping Long gets to keep after he traded in his "manager" uniform for the number of his choice.
Toczylousky is also getting the touchdown ball painted to commemorate Long's special moment.
A year in the making
Toczylousky said the moment never presented itself last fall, but when he got the call from life skills staff asking if Long could return as the team's manager, the third-year coach wouldn't let the opportunity slip past him this year.
"There was no way I was going to go out this year without honoring him," Toczylousky said. "He's helped me out so much over the years and he just brings such joy to everybody."
Toczylousky said it all started coming together the last few weeks and Monday night against Bloomsburg was the best game for everything to fall into place.
"They were right on board, really excited and we were so thankful they were willing to do something like this for us," Toczylousky said. "They handled it with such class and their players congratulated Anthony and our guys. It was really nice to see them cheer on our guys, too."
Long couldn't wait to get his moment to carry the ball, asking Toczylousky if he could get into the game throughout the first half.
And once he got that promised touchdown, he didn't hold back on the punches to his coach and former teacher.
"I'm better than Coach T," Long said with a laugh.
Toczylousky, a former Southern Columbia football player and wrestler, took the jab in great stride.
"He's been waiting to tell me that all week," he said before embracing his former student in a hug. "... He always likes to bust on me, tell me he can tackle me or run me over, all that kind of stuff."
After the postgame huddle, Toczylousky and the coaches let Long have the final say. He got some cheers from his teammates both prior and after yelling, "Good win guys."
It likely won't be the last impression Long will make on the junior high program. Long and his family have expressed interest in him remaining as the team's manager, a role he's grown comfortable performing since being introduced to Toczylousky and the team by life skills coach Kelsey Downs.
"As long as I'm the head coach here, I will take him every year," Toczylousky said. "I can't picture doing this without him. As long as he's willing to help me, I'll take him. ... He knows he's got me by the finger. He's such a great kid."
The 19-9 score may soon be forgettable, but Long's touchdown will be unforgettable to him and those who witnessed it.
Link to story: https://www.pressenterpriseonl...
