WAXAHACHIE
Ty’Resi Cline, a 10-year-old kid from San Antonio, made his way down the aisles of the Alamodome to watch the UIL Texas high school state basketball championships in March.
He saw North Crowley boys basketball defeat San Antonio Brennan 65-52 to win the Class 6A Division I state championship. That moment was enough to convince him to become a fan of the Fort Worth athletics powerhouse, even from 260 miles away.
North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel emotionally hoists the championship trophy after the Class 6A Division I state championship against San Antonio Brennan at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, March 14, 2026. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
Ty’Resi started watching YouTube highlights of North Crowley football, a sport he was always fascinated by. But because he has cerebral palsy, Ty’Resi won’t be able to put on pads himself.
“He loved the way that [North Crowley] played as a family,” said Andresi Tate, his mother. “He just fell in love with the team.”
That didn’t stop his family from wanting him to experience the thrills and camaraderie of high school football. Laura Tate-Mills, Ty’Resi’s grandmother, emailed North Crowley football, hoping to give him a chance to make football dreams come true.
North Crowley director of football operations Astin Greer sent a prompt response, according to Tate-Mills, inviting the family to Friday’s game against Waxahachie at Lumpkins Stadium. The Panthers connected them with Waxahachie athletics, and Ty’Resi got a sideline pass.
“Waxahachie was also very open to getting Ty’Resi on the field,” Tate-Mills said. “And I appreciate that.”
Ty’Resi’s family drove in from San Antonio Friday ahead of the game. They picked the right contest to attend in person, as No. 3 North Crowley took down Waxahachie, the No. 1-ranked program in Texas. The Panthers made a statement, winning 42-17.
North Crowley runs onto the field before the game against Waxahachie on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie. Abigail Dollins FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
But what happened after the final whistle turned a great night into one Ty’Resi will cherish. North Crowley head coach DeMarcus Harris gave Ty’Resi a VIP experience, taking him into the postgame huddle.
He explained Ty’Resi’s situation to the entire team. Players responded with chants of “Love you, bro.”
“His favorite team is North Crowley,” Harris told players. “And he can’t play football. There is a lot of people that wish they were in your shoes. And you guys are heroes to a lot of people. There are people that look up to you guys. So, make sure you guys are always doing the right thing.”
Harris then asked Ty’Resi which player was his favorite, and he responded, saying, “No. 2 was going crazy.”
North Crowley players erupted in cheers. Ty’Resi was referring to junior Damarion Mays, a four-star recruit who posted a game-high 115 yards on 2 receptions against Waxahachie, including an 80-yard touchdown.
Mays then stepped forward and gave the young fan another moment to remember, dapping him up and giving him a North Crowley-branded towel. Ty’Resi raised it in the air as players cheered, then listened closely as Harris praised the program for a hard-fought, complete victory.
“I’m so glad he came to watch us play,” Mays said. “We had to reward him with something. It pushed me to go even harder every day.”
Harris then put his arm around Ty’Resi, welcoming him into one of North Crowley’s most sacred traditions: postgame prayer.
“This night, it made him feel a part of [something bigger],” said Cynthia Shaw, Ty’Resi’s great-aunt. “They accepted him. By the way they treated him, they made him feel like a part of it.”
After, it was time to enjoy the victory. Players gathered around Ty’Resi, making him the focal point of a Panther staple: the whistle celebration. The athletes encouraged Ty’Resi, who hit some fresh dance moves.
“That was fun,” Ty’Resi said. “In that moment, I felt like I had some genuine brothers from football.”
Ty’Resi then broke down the huddle, ending the night with another special moment.
“It was awesome,” Harris said. “We want to make sure we’re showing love to fans like [Ty’Resi]. It makes you want to do right. It makes you want to give everything you’ve got, every single day.”
Tate said the whole night was a “dream come true.”
“[Ty’Resi] was just so ecstatic,” Tate said. “He couldn’t do anything but cry. And they were tears of joy. He was so excited to be there. To be on the sideline and meet everybody and see the guys in person.”
North Crowley players were overwhelmingly receptive and friendly toward Ty’Resi, and the experience gave them a reminder: They’re role models to the youth in the community, and even to a young fan all the way in San Antonio.
“It just means so much to [North Crowley football] that a kid from San Antonio would come all the way down just to support North Crowley for one game,” senior quarterback Jacob Torres said.
Ty’Resi said the night was “truly a blessing.”
“I was very much surprised. … It was a very fun experience,” Ty’Resi said. “I would love to go back to one of their games. … They know how to play as a family. North Crowley was very kind to me. And I loved it. The coaching staff made it a special night.”
Before she reached out via email, Tate-Mills wasn’t sure if North Crowley coaches would see the message or respond. Tate-Mills said she was very impressed by how quickly the program responded and was eager to help. It even helped her regain some faith in humanity.
“It really was a great experience,” Tate-Mills said. “And that’s something he’ll never forget. And that goes a long way, because he can share the story with his friends. … They can see that if I reach out to people, they can respond in a positive way. Because we have so much negativity now. But it’s not always negative.”
Tate said she couldn’t thank Greer and Harris enough for the special experience for her kid.
“I love the way that they love on the boys and pour into them,” Tate said. “I’m sure they know that everyone loves them, but I want to say that myself. Thank you so much for taking my baby in and making him feel like a part of the team, even if it was just for one night.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2026 at 12:28 PM.
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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.