DALTON, Ga. — Members of Dalton High School’s football team thought they were just going to Ridgeland High School on Friday night to play a scrimmage against the Panthers. While they did compete on the gridiron, the Catamounts got more than they bargained for — they got to help make a young man’s dream come true.

Ridgeland High senior Seth McGee was born with Down syndrome, but his mother Penny says that his physical limitations have not quelled his love of sports.

“He loves sports, he’s always been a sports junkie,” Penny McGee said.

On Friday night, the sports fanatic got to experience a thrill of a lifetime. On the final play of the scrimmage, McGee, wearing No. 94, checked into the game at running back. The Dalton defense was made aware of the substitution, and McGee rumbled his way for a 65-yard touchdown with his entire team running behind him and cheering him on.

The Panthers were soon joined by the Catamounts team as the two squads came together to lift McGee on their shoulders and congratulate an amazing young man.

“Honestly, it was a honor to be a part of something like that,” Dalton running back Kyric McGowan said. “We didn’t know what was going on at first, but once someone told us and just seeing him get to do that, it’s amazing. I was one of the first people off the sidelines (to celebrate with him). Once you saw what was going on, how could you not want to run out there with him?”

McGee has participated in sports throughout his time at Ridgeland, but had been unable to suit up for a football game. He participated in summer workouts in 2015, but was unable to stay with the team. McGee has found other ways to stay active without football.

“For a child with Down syndrome, I’ve always thought he’s pretty coordinated,” Penny McGee said. “He’s very active, he loves to swim and got to do the Special Olympics in swimming in Atlanta this summer, which he loved. He wrestles on the Ridgeland wrestling team and he’s just very personable and very sociable. They call him the rock star at Ridgeland because everybody knows him.”

When asked what his favorite sport was, McGee’s reply of “football” was swift. He claimed to be a Tennessee Volunteers fan, although his mom said he likes Tennessee right now and admitted he was wearing an Alabama shirt while talking on the phone. But regardless of who he’s pulling for on Saturdays, it’s clear that suiting up with the Panthers on Friday night was important to him.

“He went back out with the team this summer and went to workouts and he goes every day,” Penny McGee said. “He doesn’t miss practice and he’s a big part of the team. The boys are really good to him. I can’t say anything bad about the Ridgeland students. It makes me want to cry every time I see them with him.”

Penny McGee was unable to attend the game on Friday night and said she had no idea his big moment was coming. Several calls to Ridgeland coach Wesley Tankersley were not returned.

It wasn’t until a video taken by one of Seth’s teachers —  which has now gone viral on social media — was sent to her that McGee was able to see her son’s touchdown run. The impact of what it meant to her, including seeing the Dalton players’ reaction, was difficult for her to describe.

“Oh my gosh, it’s unexplainable, you can’t hold back tears,” Penny McGee said. “You always wonder when you have a child with Down syndrome, what is going to happen? Will he be accepted? Will he have friends? Will he get to do everything he wants to?

“When something like this happens, for them to accept him and treat him the way they treated him, it can’t be described.”

In a second video posted by the Ridgeland Technology Club, several Dalton players, including McGowan among others, can be seen going up and speaking words of encouragement to McGee.

“I just went over and told him good job and good run,” McGowan said. “To make someone’s day like that, it’s heartwarming.”

Dalton coach Matt Land said he was humbled that his team was able to participate in such a memorable moment.

“We need reminders that the game is bigger than the score, it’s bigger than scholarships, it’s about the kids and the memories that are made,” Land said. “It was a great moment for (Seth) and anyone who was in the stands. I hope that is a life-changing moment that people remember 30 to 35 years down the road.

“I was so proud of my guys. It’s those moments you can’t hide character. In the heat of the moment, because there wasn’t a lot of pre-warning, we didn’t tell them until that play, for them to understand it and grasp the situation and be a part of it says a lot.”