Bellmore Braves win big in more ways than one

The 11U Bellmore Braves Football team were big winners when they had the opportunity to play at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, defeating the East Rockaway Raiders in September.

According to father and Braves program volunteer Peter Mayo, the scrimmage was played after the New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles game on Sept. 27.

“At the stadium, the boys enjoyed meeting each other, tailgating and partaking in the pre-game festivities. Over 300 family and friends were on hand to also watch the Jets-Eagles game and cheer on the team during their scrimmage,” he said.

The team had the chance to enter the stadium through the same entrance the Jets and Eagles used and see the stadium from a perspective that few are ever afforded.

“Seeing the team walk out onto the field was a highlight that everyone in attendance will never forget. The boys looked around the field and felt what it must be like to be a professional NFL player,” Mayo said.

The highlight of the day for Mayo, however, was both teams coming together to make the day special for an unofficial member of the East Rockaway team — a boy with autism who attends their every practice.

According to Mayo, the Braves ran a play for the boy to start the game, with the ball being handed off to him so he could run it in for a touchdown.

“It was an amazing moment. Both teams congratulated him in the end zone and everyone in the stands cheered,” Mayo said. “It was something that was bigger than the game and an event that both teams came together for. The term 'special moment' gets used a lot. However, for this one play everyone there truly was part of something that can only be described as 'special'.”