Family connections make DFRC all-star football game precious for 3 Blue teammates

Three Blue players go into Friday’s 67th DFRC Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game with an enhanced perspective and deeper understanding that makes their participation more enriching.

Nate Ray, T.J. Martin and Chris Albero will step onto Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium at 6 p.m. aiming to put a memorable end to their high school careers.

But each knows who the game’s biggest winners are, regardless of the final score in the north-south matchup.

“It’s more than a game,” Ray said.

Since the all-star game’s 1956 inception, it has raised more than $6 million to aid programs for those with intellectual disabilities such as Nate Ray’s brother Matthew, T.J. Martin’s sister Epani and Chris Albero's first cousin Adam Albero.

In most games, Chris Albero said, “I’m either the star of the show or somebody on my team is, and Adam isn’t getting as much attention except the hug I give him after the game.

“To have a game where I’m not the star of the show anymore, he’s the star and everything that’s going on is for him, it means a lot to me and I just want to go out and put my best foot forward for him,” added the Archmere quarterback/kicker, who is headed to Franklin & Marshall.

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Since 1974, the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens has operated what it calls the Hand-in-Hand program matching players, cheerleaders, band members and other participants with an intellectually disabled “buddy” for game activities.

“These guys live it every day,” said Jody Russell, the Blue coach who also played in the game after starring at Newark, where he is now coach. “Nate’s brother always gives me a big hug every time I see him.”

Epani Martin's and Matthew Ray’s associations with Blue-Gold actually significantly predate those of their brothers. Matthew, who has Down syndrome and will be a junior at Brandywine High, is the Blue team’s designated all-star buddy this year.

“He has had buddies, and I’ve always looked forward to this game,” said Nate Ray, a two-way end and recent Salesianum graduate.

“We moved here [from Virginia] my fifth-grade year, and he’s been involved with Blue-Gold ever since, so I got to meet all his buddies. That was great. … He just loves it out here, being outside, meeting new people.”

Matthew Ray was a common sight at Salesianum football games, where he often sat with the Salesianum students to root for his brother and other Sals.

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“Matthew’s probably more popular than me at Sallies,” said Nate, who is headed to Delaware later this summer. “He knows people I don’t even know. He knows everyone.”

Epani Martin, 21 and a Mount Pleasant High graduate, was not a DFRC buddy but was involved in many game activities through the Blue-Gold club at Saint Mark’s, which has long had a particularly strong association with the game.

“I’d do anything for her,” said T.J., a Saint Mark’s running back. “My parents had to work late so it was often just me and her. We were just always close. We watched TV together; we played games together after school, everything.

“Whenever we need each other, we’re there for each other.”

Epani watched the Blue team on the UD practice field Tuesday morning with her dad, Thane. She frequently expressed her thoughts and extensive knowledge about the NBA, Stanley Cup and NCAA baseball playoffs.

But it was clear her favorite team is T.J.’s.

“I enjoyed going to his games at Saint Mark’s – and tailgating,” Epani said. “Even though it was cold, we did a lot of things that were fun.”

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The Martins moved from Philadelphia to Delaware when Epani was entering kindergarten so she could be part of the Brandywine School District’s Specialized Autism Program, which Thane Martin said “changed her life. It’s been huge for us.”

Now she is part of UD’s Career and Life Studies Certificate program for intellectually disabled students and works part time in the kitchen at Delaware Park.

"To be involved in this game is a blessing, honestly,” said T.J. Martin, who’ll attend Louisville on an academic scholarship and play football.

“I’ve been watching it for the last couple years, and I was always like, ‘I can’t wait to get on this field and do my thing for all these buddies and the whole DFRC program.'”

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Blue players treasure DFRC all-star football due to family ties