After scoring his first touchdown, Benton’s Matt Ziesel ignited a Youtube sensation, found his way onto newspapers across the country and starred on television news broadcasts throughout the region. Today, the media attention hits a new level.

Matt will be featured on ESPN’s “E:60” at 6 tonight.

The Benton freshman, who was born with Down syndrome, scored a touchdown in the freshman team’s game against Maryville, Mo., on Sept. 14. The coaches coordinated the play after Benton fell down 46-0, and the game was in its closing seconds. A video of the 63-yard play became viral after it was posted on popular file-sharing site Youtube.com.

“It’s an honor to be selected for such a program,” said Mike Ziesel, Matt’s father and the activities director at Benton. “We’re excited to see the finished program.”

Mike said the ESPN production crew initially spent three days in St. Joseph filming the segment, including a trip to Maryville. They returned for another two and a half days after that. The production team spent more than three hours just on the interview with Matt’s mother, Patty.

“It was like they were glued right to your side,” Mike said. “It was definitely an experience that I don’t think too many people would forget.”

Matt’s attachment goes beyond playing for the football team. Mike calls Matt the varsity football team’s — and Benton’s — most enthusiastic cheerleader.

“Everybody in town knows Matt,” Ziesell said. “It’s pretty exciting for the area. The meaning behind what is going to be portrayed (on ESPN), I assume, is going to touch a lot of people’s hearts.”

The attention doesn’t come without some nervousness. The news release announcing it points out: “But the response hasn’t been completely supportive. Critics have trashed the play as a fake, misleading, patronizing, a lie and a prank. E:60’s Jeffri Chadiha examines the issue of how one simple play turned into a firestorm of positive and negative response.”

“What did they put together? We don’t have a clue,” Mike said. “But we assume it’s going to have a positive meaning behind it and show a good example of someone setting and attaining goals.”