High school teen paralyzed in football game, surprised by dream school

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- 14-year-old Ju'Lius Byers suffered a life-changing injury in his first game as a freshman at Liberty High School.

Byers, a defensive back for Liberty, suffered an injury in a defensive play during the second quarter of a freshman football game against Lee's Summit High School in early September.

Now out of the hospital, in rehabilitation, Missouri Western State University Football Coach Tyler Fenwick and university President Elizabeth Kennedy surprised the young boy with a jersey and an invitation to serve as honorary captain for the home game against Pittsburg State.

Last year, Byers visited MoWest and returned home with a dream of playing football for the Griffons.

The Pittsburg State home game will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at MoWest.

News-Press NOW will update this story.