See touching scene as football player realizes the ref is his dad home from deployment

A pregame coin toss turned into a surprise family reunion in Alabama, after a teen football player realized his father had returned from Army deployment disguised one of the referees.

It happened Monday prior to a junior varsity game in which the Helena High Huskies hosted the Hueytown Golden Gophers. Helena is a city about 20 miles south of Birmingham.

Video shows the ruse involved an official telling players to take a moment to study the referees’ faces, at which point one man pulls off his COVID mask and reveals himself to be the father of Helena High ninth-grader Fred Grooms.

The teen appears stunned at first, then steps up to shake his father’s hand and the two embrace in a lengthy hug. Onlookers are heard applauding, and one of the officials thanks the father and son for “letting us be a part of this.”

Fred Grooms III, a freshman defensive back, is the son of Army Maj. Fred Grooms, Jr., who had been deployed the past year in Kuwait, the school said. The elder Grooms is expected to redeploy in about 30 days and will stay gone a year, officials said.

“Thank you for your service Mr. Grooms and we are glad you are home!” the school’s athletic program posted on Facebook.

Video of the reunion was shared Monday on social media, and has been viewed more than 19,000 times on Facebook and Twitter.

“This was amazing! I’m in tears,” Tonia Patterson wrote on Facebook.

“If this doesn’t make your heart swell and bring a tear to your eye, I don’t know what will!” Laura Yates Joseph said.

“That hug speaks volumes,” Juanita Harrison Green posted.

As for the outcome of the game, Hueytown won 12-7.

This story was originally published October 19, 2021 at 9:15 AM with the headline "See touching scene as football player realizes the ref is his dad home from deployment."