Flag football game about more than TDs

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) - Their play is definitely more sandlot than Ronnie Lott, but on this field it's not just about the points you put on the scoreboard.

"Little family time, little fun time and hopefully do a little good," says Kevin Hall.

Hall's annual game started like most backyard football plays do. Just some guys making things up in the dirt.

"The first couple years we did two-hand touch and I went and bought the flags on my own and said let's start doing this every year," Hall says.

Now in its 13th year, the game has expanded to 24 players and it even brought out a handful of fans.

Halftime features a raffle with the extra money going to a foodbank.

To the Most Valuable Player goes a game ball signed by everybody who played.

"You never know," Hall says. "A superstar may be signing the ball."

In fact, a superstar has signed the ball before.

But he made his name playing a different kind of defense than what you'll find on the field.

James Paul White Junior, better known as J.P. was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2006.

His sacrifice is now memorialized in the paint job his dad has given one car. His son's picture is on the hood, while the names of Ohioans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan also grace the outside.

"It's a tribute and an honor to fallen heroes from the military," J.P's dad, James White Sr. says.

J.P. used to roam the sidelines every Thanksgiving at Hall's football game.

Even though he's gone, his dad still comes to the game.

"It's nice to hang around with them," White says. "It keeps memories alive."

On this field you'll find a number of players who defended our country and are now defending goal lines. Players like Seth Hall who just got out of the army.

"It's an important day for my family and friends to be out here and spend some time together playing a game we love," Seth says.

But never far from their minds are those who are still serving overseas, like Seth's brother Nick.

He's represented at the game by an inflatable character from the movie "Despicable Me".

"We brought it out to the football game today and we're going to take pictures and send them to my brother in Afghanistan so he can feel like he was here today," Seth says.

Because what happens out here goes beyond just tackles and touchdowns. It's about the flag and the football.

"This is about remembering what we're thankful for," Seth says. "The freedom we have to be here to play football in the morning and have a great meal later on."