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Santa Clarita Teen Gets Special Surprise At Football Game

Hart High School’s football players and coaching staff came together to make one boy’s dreams come true in Wednesday night’s game.

A local Hart freshman football player named Tyler Heid, 14,  played in last night’s game against Canyon High School. 

Tyler was a part of the team, but hadn’t yet played in a game. Tyler was diagnosed with autism when he was two.

“I don’t think they (the football players) know the struggles that he once had,” said Michelle Heid, Tyler’s mother.


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Tyler, who is known as Ty, joined Hart’s football team when he entered into high school.IMG_4778

“I just wanted him to be on the football team for social support,” Michelle said. “The team and the coaching staff have really just taken him in.”

Hart was “really ahead” in last night’s game versus Canyon High School, Michelle said.

Hart football Coach’s Joe McKeon and son Jack McKeon, called “coach one” and “coach two” by their players, decided this was the perfect moment for Ty to shine.

Freshman football player CJ McMullen ran out of bounds at the one yard line, purposely.

CJ then ran and got Ty, and pushed him into the end zone, making Ty score a touchdown for the team. 

“I think it was a surprise to everyone. The boys had mentioned it from time to time, but I had no idea,” said Michelle.

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IMG_4779The team took three downs for the brave move, but Hart still ended up beating out Canyon 57 to 6.

“He is one of the star players, and he was literally pushing him (Ty) over the goal line.”

“I don’t think the boys on the team really know the struggles he has on a day to day basis, it was really special,” said a tearful Michelle.

About the coaches:

Coach Joe McKeon has been on the coaching staff for over 24 years. He has coached at every level of the Hart football program, according to Hart’s website.

Coach Jack McKeon is Coach Joe’s son and is in his second year of coaching Hart High football. But, he has coached youth football for many years, according to Hart’s website.

Santa Clarita Teen Gets Special Surprise At Football Game

4 comments

  1. Way to go Hart coaches and Hart freshman football. First of all to have such an awesome game all the way through with Canyon and second of all to do so such teamwork and support Ty to have the opportunity to be a contributing factor to his team is more than most teams would ever do for something so selfless as this. Proud that my oldest played Hart Football and proud that my youngest cheered for Hart football!

  2. That was very special and touching what the coaches did to give Tyler Heid his moment to shine, but what about McMullen, the boy who gave up A touchdown to ad to his stats. That is a demonstration of outstanding character!!!

  3. Ty Heid is my great grandson, and what the Hart coaching team and team mates did for Ty brings tears to my eyes. As was noted in the article Ty has had to overcome many obstacles in his life. But these obstacles have made Ty a strong determined young man. Support like he received from the Hart team will just add to his determination to succeed. My congratulations to a fine educational organation.

  4. I just saw a wonderful story on Channel 7 ABC regarding a coach named McKeon and a young autistic football player named Ty Heid. I am a board member of Montebello High School’s Alumni Association. The young adults in our school make us proud and to see a story about entire football team that made this young man “beam” with pride brought happy tears to my face. Congratulations to Coach McKeon and the entire football team.. You are what the future holds for us. You should be very proud of yourselves. This act of kindness will never by forgotten by Ty, his family and the entire football team and their famiilies. This proves to me that all of you will succeed in life and whatever life hands you. Your kindness will take all of you far in all your endeavors.

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About Kimberly Beers

Kimberly Beers is a Santa Clarita native. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from California State University, Northridge in 2013. While attending the university, she focused her attention on news writing and worked as a primary news writer for the campus' award winning radio station and televised news program. She began writing news stories for KHTS in 2014 and hopes to have a lifetime career dedicated to writing and sharing the news