Football team rallies behind 9-year-old hit by car while riding scooter
KDVR Fox 31
THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — The Thornton Junior Football League is rallying behind one of their own: 9-year-old Rayzel Esquivel, better known as 'Pocketz,' who was struck by a vehicle while on his scooter outside his home.
Sean Houston, vice president of the Thornton Junior Football League said Pocketz was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon after spending five days there.
“He's a great kid," said Houston. "He's outgoing, always a friend to somebody.”
Houston has been coaching the league for more than a decade.
"I've always been with this age group of third and fourth graders," he said. "You grow a relationship and grow a brotherhood when it comes to these football teams.
Houston would know best after spending two seasons with Pocketz by his side.
“At the beginning of the year Pocketz would always stick his hands in his pockets," said Houston. "We would always make fun of him, saying 'you can’t make a play with your hands in your pockets.'"
Houston was devastated when he got a text from Pocketz's mom on Oct. 10 saying she was rushing the 9-year-old to the hospital.
"He was riding his scooter outside his house and was struck by a vehicle," said Houston.
The crash left Pocketz with a broken femur and multiple skull fractures.
“We had practice that night so to even break it to them after practice of the news of Pocketz and to let the parents know it was really hard," said Houston.
The situation may have temporarily broken his body, but not his drive and passion.
“We got these stickers here RE 36," said Houston. "We got it on the back of helmets for players it’s just everything is for Pocketz from here on out."
Houston is pleading with drivers to slow down on neighborhood streets and to watch out for kids at play. He says no family should ever have to go through this alone and that's why the team has put on a fundraiser so Pocketz's family doesn't have to.