GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A youth football team is feeling extra thankful this Thanksgiving holiday. That's due in part to a special surprise from the Washington Commanders.
In September, the Montgomery Village Chiefs — a 13U football team based in Gaithersburg — almost had its season canceled by gun violence. A shooting at South Valley Park disrupted homecoming celebrations and left a 17-year-old hurt.
“It was like a tidal wave of people coming towards us. It was ridiculous," Brice Jackson, the Commissioner of Montgomery Village Youth Football told WUSA9. “It was homecoming, it was a great day. I had coaches that hadn’t been there in 20, 30 years. Everybody’s having an awesome time. Next thing you know, shots rang out.”
"We have over 200 kids that play with us. That’s not counting the two cheer teams, that’s not counting the siblings, that’s not counting the other teams and their siblings," said Jackson. "You could imagine how many kids we had out there and the adults and grandmas."
He says the gunfire came from people that had nothing to do with the homecoming celebration that featured eight football games with kids ages 5 to 13.
In the weeks following the shooting, Jackson said the community came together and rallied around the team, determined to not let the act of violence derail the season.
“This has kind of galvanized us, man. It really has," Jackson said.
The team kept its season going, and eventually qualified for the American Youth Football Nationals in Naples, Florida. But the uncertainty surrounding the team's future following the shooting meant funds necessary to travel weren't raised.
After winning their regional championship in overtime, the team's parents and coaches started a GoFundMe to pay for flights and accommodations for the 38 players, who are in their last year of youth football.
The fundraiser has raised just under $2,000. Well short of its $40,000 goal. That's when the Commanders stepped in to help the athletes compete on the national stage.
The Commanders surprised the team at practice on Tuesday and let them know the franchise will cover the cost for the trip to Florida. Commanders legends Santana Moss, Fred Smoot, Josh Morgan, Billy McMullen, Tanard Jackson and Tim Hightower were on hand for the surprise, along with mascot Major Tuddy.
"First of all, y'all earned it, and y'all deserve it," Smoot said. "When it comes to the Commanders, community is Commanders and Commanders is community."