A Saugus Spartan football team introduced an 8-year-old Santa Clarita boy with a progressive muscle degenerative disease as their honorary 21st player, family members announced Wednesday.

Peyton Marquez, a third grader at Albert Einstein Academy who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of 6, will join the Saugus Spartan Bantam Silver team on the field in his mobility scooter at Thursday’s practice and be named co-captain at Saturday’s game.

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“He loves to watch sports,” said Bonnie Marquez, his mother. “(As an honorary player) he could feel like the other kids on the team and be part of something that he will never be able to play, but still feel the camaraderie of a team.”

The team is set to present Marquez with his own jersey and incorporate him into their normal conditioning drills at Thursday’s practice, she said.

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In honor of the official National Coach for the Cure Day for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which falls on Saturday, Coach Tony Moore will dedicate the day’s game to Marquez.

Before the game, Marquez is set to join quarterback Ian Duarte, fullback Davis Perkins, running back Shane Alvarez and lineman J.T. Moore at the 50-yard line, where he will get to call the coin toss.

“It’s hard because he would love to play, but he just can’t,” his mother said. “He’s gonna be excited when he gets out there.”

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