3 area football teams will wear special jerseys Friday to commemorate 9/11

The jerseys first debuted in 2019

Sixteen high school football teams from across Ohio, including three local teams, will wear Ohio Army National Guard camouflage jerseys to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 this weekend.

Troy, Valley View and Waynesville will wear the jerseys at home games Friday.

“We are honored to help communities pay tribute to the first responders and military members who have served or continue to serve since the attacks on 9/11,” said Maj. Matt France, commander of the Ohio Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, in a press release.

In Week 4 of the seaosn, Troy (0-2) plays Stebbins (3-0), Valley View (1-2) plays Oakwood (2-1) and Waynesville (3-0) plays Madison (0-3).

Valley View is calling Friday’s game a Military Honor game.

“The Valley View Spartans football players will be wearing camouflage jerseys and the Spartan cheerleaders will have Army National Guard ‘throw out’ items to distribute to our fans,” Valley View announced on its website. “A special announcement just prior to kick-off will be made to honor all current and former military in attendance. Please join us for this special occasion and to cheer the Spartans on to victory.”

The camouflage pattern was first approved by the Ohio High School Athletic Association in 2019 as part of the Hometown Hero Game of the Week.

The other participating schools are: Anthony Wayne; Bloom-Carroll; Elgin; Franklin Heights; Jackson-Milton; Nelsonville-York; Norwood; Ridgemont; Rossford; Seneca East; Steubenville; Stryker; and Waterloo.

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