.png "Aledo and Arlington logos.")
Aledo and Arlington logos.
Andrea Soto said she felt like her Apple Watch was buzzing every minute last week.
She was being flooded with Venmo notifications, all with the same message: with love from Aledo. The Bearcat football community came together to support her son, Sam Soto, a third-generation Arlington High student and football player undergoing cancer treatment.
The movement started ahead of Aledo and Arlington’s District 3-6A matchup Friday, Oct. 16. The Soto family had received news that Sam would have to undergo further treatment after it was believed he was in remission. A cancer spot was found in his brain.
A friend of the Soto family launched a fundraiser, challenging members of the Arlington football community to donate $18 to support Sam and help with medical expenses. Soon after, there was an unexpected development, as the rival Aledo Bearcat community heard about it.
Aledo ISD Director of Communications Mercedes Mayer took to Facebook, sparking the Bearcats’ support.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we blew up [Sam’s] mom’s Venmo with $18 donations that read, ‘With love from Aledo’???” Mayer wrote. “Let’s show them how Aledo does things … how our community would come together if Sam were one of our own!”
Andrea Soto said the support and generosity were overwhelming and that the Bearcat community raised over $3,000 for Sam’s treatment.
“It’s almost uncomfortable at first, and then you just realize, there’s so much goodness in the world and … if Sam’s story just shows people that I’m just thrilled,” Soto said.
Those interested in supporting can send donations via Venmo (@andrea-soto-32).
“I am always in awe of what we can do as a Bearcat community when we come together so I also want to say THANK YOU for reminding me of the incredible force for goodness we can be!” Mayer wrote.
Arlington head coach Scott Peach spoke to both Aledo and Arlington football teams after the Bearcats’ 42-28 victory, voicing his thanks for Aledo’s support in a video posted by Aledo Daily Buzz to Facebook.
“We wanted to tell you how awesome it was for y’all to give back to this family,” Peach told Bearcat players, who also signed and displayed a banner supporting Sam. “Let’s give them a round of applause.”
Both teams then put their arms around each other’s shoulders to pray for Sam, putting aside district rivalry to focus on something more important: Sam’s recovery.
Fans and parents also showed their support in person.
“The [mothers] at Aledo, a lot of them came up to me with literal tears in their eyes, just letting me know that they were praying for Sam,” Andrea Soto said.
Peach told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview that he was very grateful for Mayer’s call to action.
“I’m very impressed with the Aledo community, for them to make it bigger than the game,” Peach said. “To really just see an opportunity to love on a family during a district rivalry ballgame.
“I’m so grateful for all of the families that didn’t even know this young man to contribute to helping to save his life. It really was a special moment.”
Peach called Sam the “ultimate fighter” for what he’s endured the past year. It’s been a long journey of setback after setback.
Sam, who was Arlington’s starting center as a junior, suffered a season-ending injury, breaking his toe.
“He fought back and worked really hard to get back,” Peach said. “He then struggled with his back all season in the winter and in the spring and didn’t know what it was.”
Soto then dealt with cancer treatment and went into remission, only to have to endure treatment again.
“It was heartbreaking,” Peach said.
But through the hardships, Andrea Soto said the community’s support has been a positive. It reminded her that football is “more than a game” and how special the sport’s brotherhood can be.
She said she is extremely grateful for the Arlington coaching staff going out of its way to ensure Sam feels part of the program. Peach made Sam an honorary captain for September, which is also Children’s Cancer Month.
Despite dealing with treatment side effects and recovering from surgery, Sam has helped with equipment, specifically helmets, as much as he can. Peach said he’s also helped coach the offensive linemen.
Sam Soto walks out as an honorary captain at a September football game. Soto Family Courtesy to the Star-Telegram
“[The Arlington coaches] have shown up for Sam, like he is their own,” Andrea Soto said.
Another team also showed up to support Sam: district rival Arlington Lamar.
The Lamar offensive line made a trip to visit Sam to “remind him he’s not fighting alone,” according to Andrea Soto.
“O-line brothers on the other part of town are rooting for [Sam],” Andrea Soto said. “Our world’s a crazy place, and for people to be showing up that don’t know us personally is just incredible.”
Sam has treatment to manage, which will be challenging. But Sam, a senior, will strive to return to Arlington football next season, according to Peach. With Soto unable to graduate school this semester, Peach said he could potentially play another season in 2027.
Arlington football player Sam Soto is photographed. Soto Family Courtesy to the Star-Telegram
“I was just incredibly overwhelmed with his attitude that night,” Peach said. “I was on the phone with him with tears in my eyes over the fact that we just found out he had cancer in his brain. … He is a true fighter, an unbelievable champion.
“ … I’m an adult, but he’s an inspiration to me because sometimes we get caught up in our own lives of how anxious and how concerned we are with all these little things in life. For him to take on this unbelievable challenge the way he has is awesome.”
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.