GARDNER, Kan. -- As the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers got ready to take on the Schlagle Stallions a new face came tearing through the tunnel on Friday night.

Ten-year-old Bryndon Barrett, who attends Gardner Elementary School, was with the team as it ran out onto the field for its playoff game. He is a big fan, but on Friday night he was the star with the entire community rallying around him as he battles an even bigger foe -- cancer.

"He was diagnosed a little over a year ago with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia)," his father, Jackie Barrett, said. "Then we found out he is Philadelphia-positive, which made him high risk."

Bryndon and his family refuse to let the disease get them down.

"We don't focus on what we can’t do, we rejoice in what we can," his father said.

"I don't get to do a lot of stuff so this is pretty cool," Bryndon said

While Bryndon enjoyed his run with the big boys, his dad said it's the support of the community that keep him and his family going and gives them hope they can take on the disease and win.

Gardner-Edgerton kept its championship hopes alive with a 49-0 win. The Trailblazers take on Topeka-Seaman Friday night.