JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Markie DeBiase is the type of player you want on your team.
"He's that guy that no matter what type of day you're having, you go and spend five minutes with Markie DeBiase and your day immediately turns for the good," said Providence Head Coach Bobby Raulerson.
Markie is a freshman at Providence School in Jacksonville. This is his first season as a member of the Stallions.
"My position is right tackle, left tackle and nose guard," Markie said.
His head coach says his attitude is infectious.
"He loves the camaraderie of being out here with his teammates and that's something we ultimately hope our kids feed off of," said Raulerson.
Markie has special needs but it has not stopped him from playing the sport he loves.
"He gets his opportunity to play," said his dad, Mark DeBiase. It's not a lot but he gets on the field. And when they call his number, you see him warming up on the sidelines. It's like he just scored a touchdown when he gets called into a game."
In order to participate in football, Markie had to pass a physical examination. And while Markie's parents had to consider the risk for potential injury, they said the decision was an easy one.
"Just like any kid with football, injuries can happen but we just couldn't take that opportunity away from him," said Myra DeBiase, Markie's mom. "We decided at some point we weren't going to treat him any differently. He was going to be just like the rest of us and I think that's what held us together. He wasn't always going to be the special kid. He wasn't going to be labeled differently. He just became one of everybody."
Thankfully for Markie, his older brother, Augie, looks out for him on the football field. Augie is the Stallions' starting quarterback.
"When you're able to see brothers come together and be able to go to school together and the love they have for one another, to be able to do that on a Friday night when the lights are on and the fans are in the stands, there's just nothing better," said Raulerson.
PHOTO GALLERY: Markie and his family
Augie attended Providence School through the eighth grade but transferred to Nease High School for his freshman year. After one season, Augie returned to Providence, in part, to be with his brother.
"Everywhere I go, he's with me. We share a room, share clothes, share food. He's my best friend and I couldn't imagine him not being with me."
As a sophomore, Augie is one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the area. He already has offers from Virginia Tech and Indiana. But when he's not throwing touchdown passes, Augie is cheering on Markie.
"Anybody who watches a Providence football game can see while Augie is a quarterback and deals with the normal challenges that come with running a football team and an offense like he has to during the game, he's always checking on his brother on the sidelines," said Mark DeBiase. "Always looking to see if he's ok. And when it's time for Markie to go in, it's extremely important that he does well and he's looked after."
One of those times came on September 20, in the fourth quarter against Crescent City.
"I was so excited," Augie said. I was on the sidelines. I was screaming, ‘Hit em. Get ‘em low.' And several times he got in on a few blocks."
But more importantly, it was proof that Markie was just like everyone else.
"It was just about Markie being just like all the other guys," said Mark DeBiase. "He's out there and Augie is out there. His teammates are out there. He's doing it. Nothing is holding him back."