Small towns, sportsmanship and 4 seconds.

This is a great story about how making a difference in one young man's life can lift up everyone in two small towns.

From the Daily Democrat.

On the evening of Friday, Nov. 3, on a cool night in Chester, this group of young men and coaches did something so profound, it still brings tears to the eyes of many of us here in Chester.

The Esparto JV team, out in front by three touchdowns and only 4 seconds left on the clock, demonstrated incredible sportsmanship through the unselfish act of letting a very special kid on the opposing team score a touchdown.....This past Friday in Chester, with virtually no time on the clock and Esparto leading 26-6, Coach Mike called a play they use in practice called "Alex Right," a way for Alex to participate and score TD's in practice.

The quarterback threw the ball to Alex just off right end and with his teammates and crowd yelling at him to run, the referees allowing minor infractions to go uncalled, the Esparto players trying hard, but not too hard to catch Alex, all turned out to be a story-book finish to a game that hadn't gone our way. The fact that they had just lost didn't seem to matter to the Chester kids as they put him on their shoulders in the end zone or as they ran as a group back to the 50 yard line to shake hands with the Esparto team.

As you can imagine, there wasn't a dry eye in stands as parents and classmates watched a very special display of sportsmanship and compassion....

Heather and I just want to say thanks to the parents for raising such great kids, thanks to the coaches for grasping an opportunity to teach a valuable lesson, thanks to the school for putting such a great team of young men on the field and thanks to the town of Esparto, you should be very proud.

We have been so moved by what has happened, Heather and I are going to create a $1,000 scholarship to be split each year between the two schools. This scholarship is to go to the senior football player that demonstrates the highest levels of sportsmanship, provides leadership to his teammates, mentors the younger players and has committed to going onto college. The scholarship will be called "It only takes 4 seconds."

GLEN and HEATHER LONG

I always liked the town of Chester, I am going to have to visit next summer to go fishing and to say thanks for raising great kids yourselves.