DOWAGIAC — A Dowagiac teenager’s dream to see Notre Dame play for a national title in person took another step last week.

Blake Dudley, 14, finally got to hold two tickets to Monday’s BCS National Championship game — mailed by an anonymous donor — on Thursday.

“It was awesome,” said Dudley, who will be traveling to Miami Saturday with his brother, Brenden, 12, and mother, Celeste.

The tickets arrived by Fedex. Celeste handed the tickets to Blake in an envelope.

“He opened it up and had a big smile on his face,” Celeste said.

In November, Blake, bound to a wheelchair with a form of muscular dystrophy, wrote a letter to the University of Notre Dame saying it was his dream to see the Irish play for a national title.

Through social networks, the letter gained national attention, including a mention from daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

“Never in a million years did I think it would happen — that people would care that much about somebody they don’t even know,” Celeste said.

Although American Airlines donated the plane tickets, Celeste said she is footing the bill for the hotel, van rental and a third ticket to the game.

“Last time, I looked they were $1,500 — not cheap,” she said.

Blake and Celeste thanked everyone for all the support.