Hitting The Gridiron With Autism

As an act of appreciation towards his services to the Fairfax County, Virginia football team, the 17-year old high school senior was finally able to hit the gridiron.The son of Bill and Andrea Creighton, together with the whole Chargers team, took the pitch against the Westfield Bulldogs in the final game of the season.

Initially proposed a few months back by head coach Mike Lalli, the gesture was made to regard with great respect Jeffrey's effort in cheering for the team from the bench as the team's honorary manager for three years.

The 17-year old suffers from an intellectual handicap called fragile X syndrome. According to the Genetics Home Reference, it is a genetic condition that causes a range of developmental and maturation problems including learning infirmity and cognitive impairment. These are caused by mutations in the FMR1 genes which provide instructions for making essential nutrients that plays a role in the development of synapses critical for relaying nerve impulses.

Jeffrey Creighton has told WJLA that he loves football. Coach Lalli announced that the teen hasn't precluded talking about his upcoming game for a week and kept on asking his teammates if he was going to score a touchdown.

Jeffrey led the pack from the tunnel and ran out onto the field wearing jersey number 11. Although Creighton's time on the pitch was short, it was truly an experience he would never forget. The Chargers cheered and shouted his name all through the minutes he played in the match and encompassed him as he returned to the sidelines according to an article on Palm Beach Post.

Creighton was not able to score a touchdown. However, the memory of the game will last a lifetime not only for him but both his parents. After the match, the smile on his face said it all.

Eventually, the game ended with a 49-21 victory for the Bulldogs.