LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A football player for Bryant and another for Benton saw a man struggling to get away from War Memorial Stadium during Saturday night’s Salt Bowl chaos.
The two players put their team loyalty aside and stopped to help.
KARK Morning News Anchor/Reporter Isabella Moller was there as Neiko Tolbert met Benton’s Kyvin Carroll and Bryant’s Latavion Scott for the first time since the incident and the three shared an emotional hug.
“I was in my wheelchair,” says Neiko.
“When I was running by I saw you guys needed some help so it was just instinct to help and Latavion came by and he assisted me,” adds Kyvin, a senior linebacker.
“I thank y’all man cause it’s amazing how you didn’t know anything about a gun and just stop,” Neiko continues.
As Neiko, his family and friends were leaving during the third quarter, chaos erupted. When rumors of shots fired spread, thousands of fans, cheerleaders and players, ran from the stadium.
While Latavion had already run past Benton for two touchdowns earlier in the game, at that point, football was no longer on their minds and they were running for survival.
But while they ran, they saw Neiko, who’s disabled and uses a wheelchair, trying to run too.
“What made you guys just turn around?, we ask. “I heard a voice ‘do you need help’ and screamed yes and before I felt it, I was falling,” recalls Neiko.
“In order for me to be okay, I need to see the people in need are okay” Kyvin adds.
“Was just doing this out of the kindness of my heart,” says Latavion.
“You carried me like I was a baby and cradled me,” Neiko tells them.
“I’m thankful we were there,” Latavion tells him.
“For you guys to come back and not know if anything of harm means the world to me man,” continues Neiko. “Yes sir, no problem. We were glad to help,” they tell him.
Neiko, a former J.A. Fair defensive back, can relate with these two.
“Football is in my heart forever, and it’ll be in yours too,” he says.
And he’s beyond grateful to have met his MVP’s of the Salt Bowl.
