Birdville RB Laderrious Mixon was on the verge of having to leave Texas. Then he became the sixth child of QB Stone Earle's family

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- It's hours before Birdville's first-round playoff game against Saginaw Boswell, and Josie Earle feels ill.

Josie is usually a fixture at Birdville football games, but she's unsure whether she'll make it out. It's possible she's coming down with something, but she acknowledges her queasiness is also from nerves. She knows how much this game means to her sons, juniors Stone Earle and Laderrious Mixon, Birdville's star quarterback and running back.

For one, it's the opening round of the playoffs. Following a 9-1 start, Birdville's best season in years is on the line. And Josie knows, too, that for Mixon, for whom she's been a legal guardian since he was 14, everything about this moment means even more.

It's impossible to know exactly where Mixon would be on that Thursday night had things turned out differently -- had his biological mother not sent him to live with relatives in Texas in hope that they could provide him better opportunities; had he and Stone not met at Smithfield Middle School and had the Earles not welcomed Mixon into their family when his prior living arrangements fell through.

But it's safe to say he wouldn't have ended up playing in a UIL Class 5A Division I playoff game as one of the Dallas area's top rushers -- and that he'd get to do it alongside Stone, his teammate-turned-brother, whose family has taken him in as its own.

"I actually do just sit back and think [about it]," Mixon said. "I'm just really thankful more than anything because not too many families would just pull a kid in and add extra stress to their family."

He smiles. "They're cool enough people to do that."

Journey to Texas

When Mixon grew up in Brent, Ala., -- a small town about 40 minutes from Tuscaloosa -- money was hard to come by for him and his mother. At times, Mixon only owned one pair of jeans that he'd wear for the entire week. He and his mother often had to house hop.

Recognizing that the educational and athletic opportunities in Brent were slim, Mixon's mother decided to send him to live with relatives in Texas when he was in the seventh grade, knowing that a life away from Brent would give Mixon a better chance at a successful future.

Mixon attended Smithfield Middle School, where he met Stone from football workouts, before joining a Christian youth group led by Stone's father, John Earle, a former NFL offensive lineman who was then a youth minister at First Colleyville Church.

A year later, things changed. Mixon was on the verge of being sent back to Alabama, as the financial burden and emotional stress of raising another child became too great for his relatives. Mixon confided in John. Driven by his Christian faith and its tenant of helping others, John brought Mixon home that night and reached out to Mixon's mother. John asked whether she would like him and his family to take Mixon in if that meant he could stay in Texas. And she said yes.

As John puts it, "that was it." Mixon's mother signed over legal guardianship to the Earles, and Mixon joined the Earle family as their sixth child.

Mixon, who was familiar enough with the Earles that he knew he would be in good hands, assured his mother that it was a good family. His mother liked that John was a youth pastor and that he and Josie had kids Mixon's age.

"It was hard for me to do that," Mixon's mother, Willie Bennett Sanders, said. "But as long as it was better for him, I let them stay out there with them."

It helped that the Earles had done this before. In addition to their three biological children - Stone (16), Ali (19) and Alexis (22) -- the Earles previously had legal guardianship over their oldest son Samuel, now 23, starting when he was 15. They also adopted their youngest -- Gabby, who is now 13 -- when she was three days old.

"The sacrifices that they give up just for the love of kids is tremendous," said Birdville head coach Lon Holbrook. "They really love and care for the kids. That whole entire family gives and gives and gives together. They see the greater good."

Sense of belonging

Mixon found it helpful to talk to Samuel about their similar past experiences and the challenges that come with joining someone else's family. Samuel, too, viewed Mixon as a "little me." Early on, if Mixon wanted to keep to himself, Samuel was the one who reminded the others that it would take time for Mixon to get fully comfortable and trust his new family.

Mixon also has a peer, role model and teammate in Stone. They have been playing football together since seventh grade.

"For Laderrious to have Stone as not only his quarterback but his brother, his best friend and his shoulder-to-lean-on is one of the best things I think could ever happen for him," Samuel said.

This season, they have served as a dynamic backfield duo that helped power Birdville's offense: Stone has thrown for 2,280 yards and 27 touchdowns, while Mixon boasts 1,691 yards -- the most for an area-5A running back -- and 22 touchdowns on the ground.

Josie and John have also prioritized keeping Bennett Sanders, whom Mixon calls "momma," a part of his life. The Earles are in constant contact with her, informing her on how Mixon is doing in school and in football and often sending her videos of the games. This past Christmas, the family even took a trip to visit Mixon's mother in Alabama.

Mixon says he and momma talk often, but not too often. After all, she's still there, and he's still here. Texas is home now.

Understandably, it took some time for everyone to get their footing. But it feels like they've turned a corner. Mixon is much more open with the Earles and his maturity has gone through the roof. "LD has come around, for sure," Samuel said.

And just a few days ago, Mixon turned to Josie and said something both had waited a long time to hear.

"Mom," Mixon said, "I really feel like I belong."

Meaning of home

Josie fights through her sickness and makes it to the playoff game after all. She settles into some seats near the top of stadium at the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex with the rest of her family -- all her kids except Samuel, who's at college at Midwestern State University, are there.

The game doesn't do much to quell Josie's nerves. Birdville trails for most of it, and though the Hawks pull ahead by eight early in the fourth, Boswell returns a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown in the final two minutes.

The Birdville defense gets a stop on the potential game-tying two-point conversion, ensuring that Birdville advances to the second round with a 29-27 win.

In the sea of family and friends who take the field postgame, the Earles come across Stone first, hugging and congratulating him before he is whisked away for an interview. They do the same once they find Mixon, and Gabby enthusiastically jumps into his arms.

A few minutes later, with the rest of the Earles talking amongst themselves, Josie and Mixon share a moment, just the two of them.

A few feet removed from the others, mom and son stand beside each other, frozen in a sort of embrace.

They're probably talking about something relating to the game.

Or, maybe, they're just taking in everything about this moment, and what it means to be home.