BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WAND) - The Illinois high school football Shrine Game returned for its 52nd edition at Tucci Stadium at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday. In all-star matchup pitting players from across the state head-to-head, the Blue Team held off a late comeback by the Red Team, 17-16.

In less than a week, players from various schools, including 23 programs in central Illinois, gathered to not only learn playbooks for competition, but also bond with other competitors and learn the significance of the game.

Shriner's Hospitals for Children provide special pediatric care to patients, many of whom have various physical disabilities. Throughout the week, players competing in the Shrine Game have a chance to not only meet children who are patients in the Shriner system, but learn about the challenges they face on a daily basis.

"All these guys out here have God given talents and abilities, but some of those kids aren't as fortunate," said Tuscola grad and running back Dylan Graves. "It was just awesome to kinda see what it's like in their life. It's a real mental check like, 'Man, I really take this stuff every day for granted.' It's super awesome just connecting with those kids."

Some players who competed in the game are fortunate enough to be going and competing at the collegiate level. Others, however, likely strapped on the pads for the final time.

"It was awesome," said Villa Grove grad and defensive back Aidan Henry. "When we first came in it was a little awkward, and just over the week we just built a relationship. It's my last game, but it was like a family."

A unique tradition that is seen each year is displayed on the helmets of nearly every player. The helmet sticker and logo of their home program is, for most, how they identify. For the Shrine Game, however, those stickers are shared on all helmets, with players wearing several logos at once. Former rivalries are set aside and new brotherhoods are created.

The Shrine Game has been hosted at Illinois Wesleyan since 2012. Several game alumni have gone onto play in the NFL, including former Chicago Bears quarterback Mike Tomczak.

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