Fun, integrity, loyalty, innovation and service. These words describe the scene at the Sept. 20 football game between Fox High School and Mehlville High School. These are also the core values of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

Mehlville hosted the first “Huddle Up For Heroes” match-up between the two high schools. While the football game proved to be exciting as teams took turns scoring, people on both sides of the field were impressed with the cause the game supported.

The WWP has aided military families for more than 10 years. Donations to WWP helps thousands of wounded warriors – and their families – as they return home from conflicts.

“We wanted to have a game to thank members of our military,” said Brent Tinker, Fox High School head football coach. “When coach Heinemann was hired at Mehlville, I knew I would have a partner to help make this game a success.”

There were military vehicles all around the stadium, American flags lining the entrance to the stadium, a ceremony to honor POWs and MIAs before the game and a giant American flag suspended by the ladder of a fire truck. The national anthem was played by the Mehlville band and the colors were presented at the 50-yard line by military members.

Mehlville received the opening kick and was also the first to score. These points came from a 20-yard field goal by kicker Austin Massey.

The Warriors answered back. To start the second quarter Fox scored on a five-yard run by sophomore Sean Chambers and then a 27-yard field goal by senior running back Jake Graham. Mehlville tied it back up later in the half with a 20-yard run by quarterback Brendan Moore. Mehlville would prove to have more offense in store still that half. With 45 seconds left, Moore hit wide receiver Joe Murphy with a 35-yard touchdown pass to go into halftime with the lead.

Fox started out the second half with two touchdowns in just two minutes. The first being a three- yard run by senior quarterback Tyler Thompson, followed up with a 35-yard run by Chambers. These touchdowns gave the Warriors a 24-17 lead. The Panthers answered back with a goal line run by Moore to tie the game.

The Panthers sealed the game in the fourth quarter with a 33-yard field goal by Massey. They scored again from a 12-yard run by Mike Mik, increasing their lead by 10. Fox nearly pulled off a comeback late in the fourth quarter by scoring a field goal, then attempting an onside kick. However, an illegal kick gave Mehlville final possession of the game, and the victory.

Mehlville won the game, but to many, the real winners were the students, fans and WWP. Both coaches hope to see this become an annual event.

“My goal is to make a lot of money for this great program, and make sure this game is still around a long time after I am gone,” said Kent Heinemann, Mehlville head football coach.

Heinemann and others agreed that the game helped support the mission of the organization: “to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history.”

For more information on the WWP or to donate, visit their website at woundedwarriorproject.org.