Tenn. — Friday night's Carter vs Cocke County HS football game started with a special kick-off that brought both teams off their feet and onto the field.
It's all because of Wesley Rice.
"That's Wesley, he loves kicking footballs," said his dad Jamie.
Wesley is a senior at Carter High School.
He's everyone's friend.
"He can be in a crowd of strangers and in 10 minutes they all love him," said Rice.
Wesley is a new kicker for Carter, jersey #76.
"He came up to me every day and said coach I've been practicing every day I can kick it about 100 yards and all that," said Carter football's offensive coordinator Ryan Roach. "I said buddy we're gonna give you an opportunity."
Wesley practiced nonstop to get a spot on the team.
"He would go outside and practice and then come back in and go outside and come back in," said Rice. "I think we have about five or six footballs stuck in trees."
Ask anyone who knows Wesley and they'll tell you they don't notice his disabilities.
"Muscular issues, his gait's messed up, intellectually he's very young," said Rice.
Wesley's rare brain disorder affects him mentally and physically, but it doesn't hold him back.
He's a staple on the football team, and earned his spot.
"Oh they love him, if he's not here everyone's asking where's Wesley where's Wesley at," said Roach.
Roach may be his biggest fan.
"I love him."
He worked with Cocke County's coaches to help Wesley fulfill a dream at Friday night's games.
At 7:30 p.m. at home in Carter's stadium, Wesley kicked off a football game.
"He said he's gonna kick it through the end zone," said Roach. "I said why don't you kick it over the field house? He said I got you coach."
Dozens of people wearing their #76 shirts watched as Wesley kicked the ball.
The crowd, the team, everyone in that stadium went wild.
Wesley's team rushed to the field and surrounded him in a big group hug.
As far as anyone at Carter High School is concerned, Wesley is just like the rest of them.
"To be on a team like Carter that just fully envelopes him and helps him and loves him and takes care of him and accepts him for who he his....it doesn't get better than that," said Rice.
Wesley will keep going to practice.
He'll finish out his senior year with his teammates by his side, and his biggest fan.
"My greatest best friend," said Roach. "I love him and he's my greatest best friend."