'NFL Super Kid' from Matthews will help kick off Super Bowl | Schools

MATTHEWS, NC (WBTV) - A fifth grader at Weddington Elementary School won a national NFL contest that would make anyone jealous - helping to kick off Super Bowl XLVI.

James Gale, 11, won the Grand Prize for the NFL PLAY 60 Super Bowl Contest on January 13, according to a release on the New England Patriots website.

Gale will be representing the Pats, his favorite team, at the big game on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis by handing over the game ball to an official before kickoff, the team website said.

Did we mention he'll be in front of thousands of fans? And there's that whole worldwide television audience, too.

He was able to get some practice in at the AFC Divisional Playoff game, thought, when he reportedly ran the ball onto the field before kickoff.

According to the release, more than 10,000 young fans nationwide entered the NFL PLAY 60 Super Bowl Contest online at NFLRUSH.com, the NFL's official website for kids.

Eligible contestants had to pledge to 60 minutes of activity a day and answer questions about the importance of health and fitness.

According to the team, Gale wrote in his contest entry, "I grew up in Liberia, West Africa and didn't get good nutrition as a little kid.  I was adopted and moved to the U.S. when I was five.  With good food and exercise, I have strong muscles and I'm one of the fastest kids at my school.  I play baseball and basketball but football is my favorite.  I hope to play in the NFL some day."

Though he and his family now live in Matthews, Gale's love of the Patriots came from living in Massachusetts before moving to North Carolina.

Thirty-three additional contest winners were named, each representing an NFL team. They'll each receive an NFL Play 60 prize pack and two tickets to a 2012 regular season game in their local NFL-team market.

For more information on NFL Play 60, click here.

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