Brothers Colton and Cooper Crabtree both play quarterback for their Frisco schools.
They are the leaders of their teams, but when they play someone is missing — their leader and father Spc. Jared Crabtree.
Crabtree left for the Middle East in August 2013 and hasn't seen his sons in 14 months. Communication is almost nonexistent which has taken a toll on his sons.
"I miss him a lot. It's hard to put it into words. I haven't seen him in so long," said Colton Crabtree.
"They worried about his safety for the longest time, just not knowing if you're dad is OK. So that's very unsettling for a kid," said their mother, Sandee Crabtree.
"It's been about a year. He left in about August. So he hasn't seen any of my games. He hasn't seen any of Vandeventer games. So I will be really excited when he comes back to see," said Cooper Crabtree.
Cooper Crabtree, who plays for Vandeventer Middle School, and his family don't expect their father home until Thanksgiving. But Jared arrived early and stayed out of sight until halftime when he made an entrance his family will never forget.
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"I guess whenever they were called up there to center field and everything, I could just feel my emotions star at to bubble up and start exploding inside," Jared Crabtree said.
For the first time, Jared saw his son Cooper non only play football, but score a touchdown. The score put a cap on a perfect night.
"I started crying," said Cooper Crabtree.
"Me too buddy, me too," said Jared Crabtree.
