Lapeer football 005

Lapeer players stand at attention for the national anthem during the Division 1 district championship football game in Lapeer in 2015. Romeo defeated Lapeer 34-14. Jake May | MLive.com

(Jake May | MLive.com)

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from the Lapeer head coach.

FLINT TOWNSHIP, MI -- While pundits across the country debate the validity of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand for the national anthem, a Lapeer football team took a stand of its own; literally.

Prior to the Lapeer Lightning's freshman football game on Wednesday, Aug. 31, the team was informed by the host team announcer -- Carman-Ainsworth High School in Flint Township -- that the national anthem would not play before the game.

Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools Superintendent Eddie L. Kindle said the national anthem was played prior to the junior varsity game held later in the night.

"Like most schools in the state of Michigan, we choose to play the national anthem prior to the highest level of competition," Kindle said.

But rather than accept that there was no anthem before their kickoff, the Lapeer freshmen took to the sidelines to stand and salute the flag. Then they began to sing.

"We're just super proud of our guys to overcome that situation and take it upon themselves to sing the national anthem. We couldn't be prouder," said Lapeer High School athletic director Shad Spilski.

While he wasn't in attendance for the game because it was on the road, Spilski said he was made aware of the act as soon as he came into work Thursday morning. Parents and other school officials have been contacting him to say how proud they are of the team.

Kindle said it's a common practice at schools with multiple levels of a sport being played the same night to play the anthem once. Carman-Ainsworth's decision not to play the anthem before the freshman game Wednesday night was not done in any sort of protest.

"That is common and typical in many communities in Michigan," Kindle said. "We have never and will never refuse to play the national anthem."

Lapeer head coach Bryan Sahr said his team thought there was some sort of problem with the sound system.

"We had all lined up on the sideline like we usually do for the national anthem," Sahr said.

When the music didn't start, another coach, Larry Perry told the team that if the music can't play, the team will sing the national anthem instead. Sahr said the players and fans on the Carman-Ainsworth sideline stood to salute the flag while the Lapeer team sung and cheered when it was over.

"It's an incredible feeling. I've been with most of these players for three years now. They're just an awesome group of kids," Sahr said. "It makes me incredibly emotional and I don't usually get emotional."

He went on to say that he was really touched that the young men weren't afraid to show their patriotism in front of a crowd.

"A lot of teenagers would be embarrassed to do that. I know I don't like to hear myself sing," Sahr said.

A parent posted a picture of the Lapeer freshman team standing at attention and saluting the flag on Facebook.

Amazing class demonstrated by Lapeer Lightning Freshmen football team!!! After we were told per the Carman Ainsworth... Posted by Chell Byrnes on Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Both Spilski and Sahr said they're not surprised the players took matters into their own hands.

"Our student body, when we do the national anthem, they're always very vocal," Spilski said.

"I'm very, very proud of them," Sahr said.