Tell Me Something Good: A Memorable Touchdown

A Memorable Touchdown

James Droz Picks Up Senior Night TD for Bruins

by Lori Just

“Touchdown Bartlesville!” the sports announcer yelled as James Droz, a senior football player with special needs, ran the ball into the endzone at the last Bruins home game of the season on November 12th. It was an unforgettable night for not only his family, but everyone at Custer Stadium.

“Any parent that has a child with special needs wants their child to be loved, accepted, and included,” said Susan Hainzinger, James’ mom. “It was a beautiful example of that.”

Susan described James as always being an active guy. He played sports up until middle school. He is sports-minded, and she attributed it to both her and James’ dad, Jerry Droz, being retired athletes.

“We’ve always gone to the Bruins football games, and he’s in the stands hollering,” she said.

Following a Bruins game his freshman year, James ran onto the field to ask Coach Lee Blankenship if there was something he could do to help the team because they were all his friends. After permission from his parents, James became the football manager.

“He is very driven and responsible,” said Susan. “It’s been a dream for James and it’s been a blessing to watch happen. When Coach Sport took over [in 2019], he took it to another level. He wanted to instill in those players values and character and included James in everything.”

James was given a headset during games and helped with filming, water, and encouraging the players. He went to every practice and traveled to games on the bus. At the end of his sophomore year, the team gave him his own letterman jacket.

“He has a way of putting things into perspective for me,” Coach Jason Sport, Bruins head coach, said. “When I was frustrated during a game, I’d just turn around and he’d say, ‘I love you’ and give me a hug. It melts my heart. Giving him the ball that night was a way for us to say, ‘we love you too, we appreciate all the time you’ve put into this.’”

Going into his senior year, Coach Sport told Susan he wanted to put James into a game this season. Although James hadn’t passed a physical to play regularly, he knew James had a heart for football. Coach Sport prayed over when it would be the best opportunity and was led to the game against the Choctaw Yellowjackets. He got permission from administration and coordinated with the visiting coach.

“I pulled him in the hallway the night of the game and said ‘James, I think we are going to try to get you in the game, so suit up, and we’ll give you the ball,” said Coach Sport. “He said, ‘it’s about time.’ He knew he was going to do something special with it. That’s been his attitude the whole time as the manager.” Susan was surprised to see James come out of the locker room all suited up in his #77 jersey and was the first to bust through the big Bruin sign onto the field. “It was senior night for these kids, so there were a lot of emotions running around anyway,” said Susan. “I started tearing up before the game even started. When he went out on the field for the play my heart started racing.” In the fourth quarter, with Choctaw leading, it was fourth down on the 37-yard line when Choctaw threw an incompletion and the ball was turned over to the Bruins. “James took that ball and once he hit the hole he just took off,” said Susan. “I’ve never seen him run that fast.”

James reached the endzone and scored a touchdown for the Bruins and the crowd just exploded. “The stands were loud and electric,” James said. “It was my first time to run the ball. I was so happy.”

Both teams took to the field in excitement to congratulate James with cheers, hugs, and chanting JD. “I was just overwhelmed with emotion,” said Susan. “I was weepy all evening. I couldn’t believe what I just witnessed. I was thankful for all the videos everyone shared. Emerging from the difficult last year we’ve had, everyone is ready for something uplifting. We are so thankful Coach Sport had it on his heart to make this special play for James. He is a pheromonal coach and human. The leadership he is giving those boys is so much more than football.”

“This was a special moment for two teams that worked together for something that was bigger than just the game,” said Coach Sport. “We are building a culture in this program of inclusion and serving others that will impact them the right way for generations to come. God’s plan is always bigger than our plan. A lot of people are being impacted by James’ heart and story.”

As for James, he agrees it was a special moment and thinks Coach Sport is awesome and “loved every moment I had with those kids.” He hopes the Bruins win more next year. In the future, he hopes to work with the WWE and concepting matches.

Although the Bruins did not win against Choctaw, both teams won’t remember the score but they will always remember what they did for James that night.