The San Francisco 49ers invited the Paradise High School football team, which has seen its town devastated by the Northern California wildfire and had to forfeit its playoff game last week because of the disaster, to attend Monday night's game against the New York Giants. The 49ers provided tickets and transportation to the game for the players, many of who have lost their homes.
KRCR News first reported news of the 49ers invitation.
"So many of our kids are struggling with life to begin with, they're teenagers trying to find their way," Paradise High School principal Loren Lighthall, who also lost his home, told KRCR. "I wish more people could go (to the game), I wish we could send the whole town. It's had a great effect on these kids and me, just to be able to bring them together. It's a great thing the 49ers are doing."
The high school football team was greeted by general manager John Lynch and will stand with 49ers players during the national anthem — once one of the kids takes off his Oakland Raiders hat, of course.
You can watch Lynch interacting with the players below, courtesy of the Mercury News' Daniel Brown.
#49ers GM John Lynch welcomes the Paradise High football team, which had to forfeit its playoff dreams because of fire devastation pic.twitter.com/ESFDDh3Kcu
— Daniel Brown (@BrownieAthletic) November 13, 2018