Inspired by a true story of parentless teenagers whose tenacity on the gridiron raised spirits in the late 1930s. The team's coach, "knew that football would inevitably bring self-respect to these boys." And it does!
It follows the story of the football team for Masonic Home, an orphanage in Ft. Worth, Texas. The coach, Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson), who bears the scars of World War I and of having grown up an orphan himself. During the Great Depression, Russell started a football team for the boys who lived at the home and attended its school. Here, with the help of a sketch his daughter draws, he will pioneer the spread offense. His players will develop into a swift and strategic team, with Hardy Brown (Jake Austin Walker) becoming the most fearsome among them.
What follows is your typical sports story that finds the troubled, angry, dirt-poor squad reaching deep into themselves and pulling out what everyone thought was impossible.
The Mighty Mites, as the team came to be called, went on to capture the heart of the nation at a time when so many needed an underdog to root for. Members of the team eventually went on to play professionally, including Hardy Brown, who played for the Colts, the 49ers, and the Broncos.
Because it is based on a true story, this movie gives those who work with troubled children hope for what they can become. It is inspiring to realize that young people can change and do great things, if just given a chance.