This Penn State football fan with Down syndrome nailed her touchdown

Brooke Fisher has been cheering on her favourite football team for her whole life, but recently it was her turn to take to the field and score a touchdown.
 
During a break in the Pennsylvania State college football team’s exhibition match last week, the 22-year-old - wearing a #17 jersey - huddled with the players before sprinting 20 metres towards the scoreline.
 
In front of 71,000 fans, Brooke, who has Down syndrome, confidently spiked the ball and broke into a jubilant celebration dance.
 
“I felt really happy,” the Bald Eagle resident tells 9Honey, adding that she loved “everything” about the day.

“The touchdown, my boyfriend was with me, and I got to hug Coach Franklin and [Penn State players] Mike Gesicki and Saquon Barkley.”

On a personal level, she says the experience of watching her daughter sprint down the Beaver Stadium field with a crowd of thousands barracking for her was surreal.  

“My brain was firing all kinds of thoughts, like, ‘Wow, what a great moment for Brooke - look at her smile!’” she recalls.

The Fishers had been contacted a week before the ‘Blue and White’ game by Penn State’s Director of Player Development and Community Relations, who invited Brooke to take part in the touchdown play.

“He reviewed with her what her role was on the field and they practiced it several times so Brooke would be comfortable with it,” Margie explains.

Watching the footage of the touchdown, it’s clear all that practice paid off.

Adding to Brooke’s confidence was her many years of watching football, both on TV and from the sidelines, which has taught her the concepts of the game.

“She also was given the chance in High School to carry the football and score a touchdown in a similar way, so she was well aware of how to score and celebrate,” Margie adds.

This wasn’t Brooke’s first up-close-and-personal experience with her beloved Penn State Nittany Lions team.

She's often been invited to the pre-game experience of meeting the players and getting their autographs, and even walked through the room where they have their coaching sessions.

The sport lover has also performed the National Anthem for various Penn State teams, including the Women’s Lacrosse and Field Hockey and Men’s Basketball teams.
 
Brooke’s loyalty to the university's sporting teams started at an early age; with her mother being a graduate herself, it was practically in her blood.

“She has watched Penn State athletic events her whole life and has her Penn State blankets, shirts, hats, mugs and dresses on game days,” Margie says.

WATCH: 9Honey discusses this football fan's dream moment.