Kaiden Schroeder is not your average 8-year-old boy. He suffers from acute lymphocytic leukemia, and on Saturday he scored a touchdown during Kansas State’s spring football game.
Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters and Wildcats coach Bill Snyder conspired to surprise Kaiden with “Kaiden’s Play,” and Snyder called Schroeder into the game. Schroeder lined up next to Waters in the shotgun, and when Waters took the snap, he handed the ball to Schroeder, who made his way 30 yards up the field to score the touchdown thanks to some stellar blocking by the offensive line.
“That was the highlight of my day,” Waters said, via the Kansas City Star. “I was in the backfield with him and he was a little wide-eyed and nervous. It was something special. I am just so happy Coach Snyder let us do that.”
Schroeder became a friend of the team after meeting K-State defensive end Ryan Mueller after the 2013 Fiesta Bowl, and Mueller was happy to help out.
“He has overcome battles,” Mueller said. “Who wants to spend their childhood doing that? I didn’t spend my eighth birthday party in a hospital. I can’t imagine going through that. We are all so glad we can help him out.”
Check out Kaiden’s Play in the video below.
