LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Collins High School senior with a congenital heart defect and partially paralyzed showed he had more heart than anyone on the field Friday night.

Jacob Hill was born with half a heart, so the right side of his heart didn't develop correctly, causing cerebral palsy. Despite his challenges, Hill is an emphatic supporter of Collins athletics, and especially, the team that plays his favorite sport.

"If every football player had any of the heart he had, they would be something," said Jay Cresap, Hill's friend and caretaker.

Wearing a helmet and pads for the first time on Senior Night in Shelbyville, Hill took a handoff from Collins quarterback Kade Goodin and broke through the line.

"I told Kade, I said 'just hand me the ball,'" Hill said. "And then boom, here we go touchdown."

Hill said he was trying to be like University of Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan. With a lead blocker, Hill went several yards and found the end zone for a score.

After he scored the touchdown, Hill said, "this is my house" and tossed the ball to the ref.

His teammates surrounded him in the end zone to celebrate the touchdown.

"I scored and they came over there and hit my head," Hill said. "Boom, here we go again."

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Jacob Hill with his family on Senior Night.

Hill's mother mentioned the idea to Cresap months ago.

"I just feel like he's always wanted to be out there and he finally got the chance," Cresap said.

The two met when Hill was in elementary school. Cresap would give him rides home from school and watch Collins football games together, beginning a 14-year bond that is now defined as a brotherhood and best friends. That bond was strengthened by a commonality that Cresap recently faced.

Cresap was diagnosed with cancer, and like Hill, was partially paralyzed on the left side after a surgery.

Jacob Hill.jpeg

Jacob Hill with Jay Cresap.

"He's done it his whole life. I've only had to do it for six months," Cresap said. "It puts it into perspective what he has to go through every day."

Cresap's road to recovery was in step with Hill's support.

"He had no fear, that's the best part," Cresap said. "He would call me and say, 'you better get up and go to therapy. You got to get stronger.'"

"I call this man about 30 times a day, I say, 'get up,'" Hill said.

Cresap has been cancer free since June. He still gets scans every three months.

The touchdown will be a lasting memory in the two's friendship, and made Hill the big man on campus.

"I had fun," Hill said. 

Collins (5-3) finishes its regular season with road games against South Oldham and Great Crossing.

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