High school football: Rich pleased to get longtime manager on the field

Justice Limb has spent the last eight years pleading with his best friends not to take a single moment on the football field for granted.

So when they had the chance to give him his moment, they didn't hesitate.

"He deserved it," said senior quarterback Bradley Holmes of his decision to give up his uniform and playing time during the second half of Rich's 35-6 win over Whitehorse on Oct. 16. "It was actually an honor for him to wear mine. He's got the most heart of anybody."

Born with Cerebral Palsy and a congenital defect that makes playing contact sports an impossibility for the Rich High senior, he chose to become part of Rebel sports by signing on as team manager. In addition to gathering equipment and hauling water, Limb spoke before games and at half-time so often that this year coaches got him a shirt that matched theirs.

"He's been our team manager since I started playing football in fifth grade," said senior Hayden McKee. The Rebel players discussed the possibility of getting Limb into a game. They wanted to get him on the field during homecoming, but it didn't work out.

One issue was whether or not it would mean forfeiting the game. Eventually both players and coaches felt it was permissible, although the boys were willing to give up their perfect record for a boy who'd always been supportive of them.

"We knew what was at stake," said Holmes. "It would have been worth giving up a game for Justice."

Jeanie Limb traveled to the game in Montezuma Creek without knowing what she would be witnessing. The boys approached her before kick-off.

"I kind of took a deep breath," she said. "This is what he's always wanted ... he'd watch football with his dad. He loves basketball and football, but football is his favorite."

How could she decline such an offer?

"'That would be so great,' I told them," Jeanie said. Her only regret was that the rest of the Limb clan wasn't at the game to watch him play. "I called them and they all cried."

With mom on board, the only person left to inform was Justice. They waited until half-time when Holmes took off his uniform and handed it to Limb. He dressed in the uniform, including cleats that were a couple sizes too big.

"They cheered for him when he ran onto the field," said Jeanie. "They carried him off of the field after the game. It made him feel like more of a part of the team."

Limb played safety and even earned a couple of tackles. As he can go into shock with an injury of any kind, his mother walked the sideline, medicine in hand.

"I just walked up and down the field and cried," she said. "I was so excited. They protected him."

And Justice did just what he's always begging his teammates to do all these years — played as hard as he could every, single play.