Farmington Valley Youth Football Player Scores One for Ill Mom [VIDEO]

FARMINGTON, CT — Football linemen very rarely get to handle the ball, but a Farmington Valley Mudhogs lineman was presented a very special opportunity to do just that Sunday.

Cole Cormier, an 8-year-old Mudhogs player from Burlington, scored on a 40-yard touchdown run late in a 21-6 loss to the West Hartford Jets in a game at Farmington High School.

The special part of the moment was that Cormier's run was dedicated to his mother, Jennifer, who successfully beat breast cancer, only to be recently diagnosed with leukemia.

Prior to the game, coaches from both teams and the game officials conferred to discuss the possibility of setting up a play for Cormier to shine.

"They told us what they wanted to do, and I had no problem with that," official John Hogan said. "We told them to tell us when they wanted to do it and we'd make it happen."

West Hartford was leading 21-0 with about a minute to play when Mudhogs coach Dion Welch informed the other sideline and the officials that the time had arrived.

"The West Hartford kids had already been told and they were in their huddle, and they tried to make it look as good as possible," Hogan said.

Cormier took a handoff and ran down the left side of the field untouched into the end zone.

"Cormier Strong" had been the theme of the game, with that slogan displayed on T-shirts and banners in support of Jennifer Cormier's fight. Proceeds are being raised for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure.

Hogan and fellow official Bill Hanker contributed to the cause by donating their pay for the game to the foundation.

Video credit: Dion Welch via YouTube

Photo courtesy of Farmington Valley Mudhogs