High school football team dedicates game to armed forces

Published Sept. 20, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
375th AIr Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- A formation of camouflage jerseys lined the field while cheering fans in the stands waved American flags to honor military members during the first Armed Forces Football Classic on Sept. 16 hosted at Mascoutah High School Stadium.

The home game featured Mascoutah High School Indians against their rivals, the Highland High School Bulldogs. More than 20 Scott AFB members formed two lines outside the stadium tunnel and high fived the football players as they entered onto the field at the beginning of the game.

"Tonight's event is an opportunity for Scott Air Force Base and 345th Air Force Recruiting Squadron to come out and express our appreciation to the community," said Lt. Col Chris Byrom, 345th Air Force RCS commander. "This year we developed a rivalry series where we recognize excellence in both sportsmanship and academics. During the game we will have scholarships available for the top student athlete from each team."

Following the teams' field entrance, the 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander, Col. Michael Hornitschek and Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Candler, 375th AMW command chief, presented two $500 scholarships to a player from each team with the highest grade point average courtesy of the 354th RCS on Scott AFB. The recipients were Matt Ropper from Highland High School and Chris Heustch from Mascoutah High School. After the scholarship presentation, a wounded warrior, James Sperry from Lebanon, Ill., tossed the coin signifying the start of the game.

"There are a lot of similarities between football and the military.... it takes leadership, teamwork, commitment and enthusiasm those are all the things we see and need in the Air Force every day," said Hornitschek. "The fact that Mascoutah township high school is supporting the base so well by recognizing our military men and women is exceptional."

The idea to have a football game dedicated to honoring the armed forces came from the Mascoutah Indians coaching staff.

The Mascoutah Indians head football coach Scott Battas grew up in the local area and recognized how important the military is to the school and community. Battas said he thought the school owed it to the kids and community.

The coaching staff originally came up with the idea at the end of last year after the season was over. With the help from the Mascoutah High School coaching staff, the principal, athletic director and 345th RCS on Scott Air Force Base, the armed forces football game came to life.

"We thought it would be a great way to honor them with so many people coming to one place. This gives us a great opportunity to honor all of our service men and women for all they do," said Battas.

The proceeds from the T-shirts will be donated to the Wounded Warrior funds. At the end of the game the 345th RCS presented the Mascoutah football team with an Air Force T-shirt, hats and a game trophy.

"We cannot do what we do without the support of the surrounding communities," said Byrom. "It is a true honor for us to come out to this event to say thank you to the society we both recruit from and serve to protect."

The 345th RCS personnel cover a 118,000 square mile area that includes central and southern Illinois, eastern Missouri, western Tennessee, Paducah, Kentucky, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi.

The 345th Recruiting Squadron on Scott AFB this year will visit four high schools rivalry football games in their area of coverage to spread the Air Force message, recruit and present two scholarships at each game. The high schools that will participate in the 345th RCS rivalry series are University of Columbia, Mo; Calvary Academy in Springfield Ill., and a Little Rock High School vs. North Little Rock High School at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.