Hartland Youth Football Players Get 'High-Fives' from Detroit Lions

By Kimberly Rinna

The Hartland Eagles Youth Football team soared onto Ford Field on Sunday, Oct. 16, for a scrimmage against Lakeland during halftime of the Detroit Lions football game. The scrimmage was played in front of as many as 70,000 fans.

There are 43 freshman level players participating in the Hartland Area Youth Athletic Association (HAYAA), which is an all-volunteer organization that provides sports programs for children (ages 5-16) in the Hartland school district. Players from four different freshman teams combined to play in this special half-time scrimmage.   

This is the second consecutive year that Hartland was accepted to participate in the Lions youth football program.

While waiting in the tunnel to enter the field for the halftime game, the HAYAA football team was able to “high-five” some of the Lions players as they exited the field. 

“(Ndamukong) Suh gave me a high-five when he walked by,” said Luciano Rinna, one of quarterbacks for the Hartland team. 

After the Lions players went through the tunnel, the freshman players ran out onto the Lions field to play their eight-minute scrimmage. They ran seven offensive plays against Lakeland and had five plays on defense. The team did a great job and executed their plays perfectly.

Thousands of fans cheered them on as both teams executed plays. As they ran off the field, after their scrimmage, players gave a wave to their parents who were watching proudly from their seats. 

“All the boys worked very hard and I was so proud of them," Coach Sam Rinna said. "This was a great opportunity for the Hartland football players and coaches."  

The team was coached by Sam Rinna, Dan D’Arcy, Chad Blondeel, Joe Anna, Steve Tomaszewki, Todd Cheney & Kendall Stevens.

The team roster for the game at Ford Field included: Luciano Rinna, Greyson Stevens, Jace Gowell, Lukas Tappen, Bryce Cheney, Connor Clarke, Landon Couture, Nate Demoff, Jason Hug, Blake Kreiner, Aiden Nieman, Ethan Shaw, Trent Thomas,  Charlie Anderson, Ethan Blondeel, Caden F-T, Colby Spisz, Joey Pierzynski, Luke Knapp, Logan Tobel, Trent Pence, Bryce Avenall, Foster Conrad, Karl Jensen, Vaughn Alexander, Stevie Kolcheff, Keegan Doyle, Tino Mendez, Reece Anna, Jack Frederick, Gavin Wizniewski, Gage Darabos, Holden D’Arcy, Zach Skipworth, Carson Neuer, Gabe Pillen, Chase Feliz, Matt Shepard, Keegan Meranuk, Tyler Hardesty, Isaac Elmore, Jacob Kletzka, and Chase Ekonen.