It was a ceremony that tugged at the heartstrings.

It involved numerous people who just wanted to show their support.

And it was completely genuine, not for show or personal gain, but an outreach to those that needed encouragement.

Simply put, it was the Northwestern Lehigh community — and others — wrapping their arms around a grieving family.

Tucker Wessner, who would have been a junior lineman on the Tigers football team this season, tragically lost his life earlier this summer. The 16-year-old fell off the tailgate of a moving vehicle and eventually succumbed to his injuries.

He would have been on the sidelines with his teammates and friends this past Friday night when the Tigers played their season opener at home against Wilson.

Instead, the memory of a missed teenager was on everyone’s mind.

Tributes to honor those who have left us usually take place in situations like these.

But for some reason, this was different. It felt different.

Maybe it was because of the tight-knit community at Northwestern Lehigh. Maybe it was the bond that football creates, as opponents and the officiating crew also felt the need to become involved in honoring Tucker.

Or maybe it was just a reminder of what is important when people in the world today seem to be at odds about everything.

Sure, the Tigers rolled to a 47-0 victory and look to be in store for another outstanding season, but on this night football was secondary.

“What a magical night,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder. “It was for us to pay tribute.

“It’s something that you don’t want to do. You know, you don’t want to have to do this. But ... you’re going to get better for doing it. You’re going to get closer for doing it. Those emotions are real, for young people as well as adults. It’s certainly going to bring you closer together, and we’re not going to forget him. He’s going to be with us this year, next year, forever.”

As always, the Tigers entered the field in traditional fashion, carrying the American flag. But instead of just the stars and stripes, the team also carried a No. 53 flag to honor Tucker’s uniform number.

A lengthy moment of silence followed a touching written speech by Athletic Director Jason Zimmerman, which was read to the large crowd on hand.

Northwestern players, wearing No. 53 stickers on their helmets, took the field after the national anthem. After the Tigers received the opening kickoff and the ball was spotted, Tucker’s jersey was draped over the football with his 53 in plain view.

The players then stood in unity as the play clock ticked down and ultimately ran out, drawing a delay-of-game penalty.

In a classy show of sportsmanship, Wilson coach Jim Brady declined the penalty, which was announced by referee John Gerbino.

Umpire Butch Seip then picked up the jersey and handed it to Gerbino, who walked it over to the sidelines and handed it to Coach Snyder. The longtime Northwestern mentor held it up and then put it on the Tiger bench.

The players, who had followed Gerbino, tapped their fist to their hearts and then pointed to the stands where Tucker’s parents were located.

“Ever since the tragedy happened, we wanted to make sure we wrapped our heads around how we’re going to pay tribute to him, not just tonight but for the rest of the season,” said Snyder. “Jason Zimmerman took a large part of that on himself, throwing ideas back and forth with us. The officials helped us out, and Coach Brady and the Wilson team was on board.”

“What was really important for us,” said Zimmerman, “for Coach Snyder and myself, was for it to be generated by the team — the kids — because it’s such a huge part of the healing process for kids to plan and plan out the tribute. So really, all of it came from the players. We were just kind of the catalysts to help it move forward and make sure it happened.”

What also made the moment special was the support that came from those outside the Northwestern family.

“About three weeks prior to Friday night, Wilson’s AD reached out and they inquired if we had anything planned,” said Zimmerman. “The answer was yes at the time, but we were putting some of the final touches on it and I told him, ‘I’ll let you know.’ Just like I do every week, I sent a breakdown with a time schedule of any special events we’re doing. Coach Brady, as soon as he received that — and we didn’t ask him — as soon as the email was sent Coach Brady immediately responded, ‘Well just so you know, we’re going to decline the penalty.’ Coach Brady also went as far to say even if we win the coin toss, we’ll defer so you guys get the ball first.

“It was important to Coach Brady to really show their support. We’re opponents on the field and warriors on the field battling each other, but in the end we’re all part of a greater family ... It was evident to me and important to Coach Brady to make sure he supported something that is much greater than the game of football. (Everyone just wanted to) give the family what little comfort we possibly could that night. Wilson was awesome. It’s what high school sports is all about, and what high school sports should be about. It was just the epitome of sportsmanship, class and respect.”

The officials also expressed interest in joining the tribute.

“Everything Mr. Gerbino said over the mic, those were his words. He came up with all that,” said Zimmerman. “When the umpire folded up the jersey up and handed it to the referee and they took it over to Coach Snyder to present it to him, that was their idea. They came up with that. They wanted to be a part of it.

“The umpire actually called me that day, Friday morning, he just needed to talk, and he said, ‘I haven’t slept since your email went out.’ He goes, ‘That is just devastating ... We’re going to make this real special.’ Again, every person from the officials to both teams and coaches, the administration, supported every effort and allowed us to do what we needed to do. It was awesome, it really was.”

When the tribute ended, play began and the normalcy of a Friday football night took over.

But the memories of Tucker will live on, throughout the season, and beyond.

“We have the 53 flag that we’ll be carrying out with us,” said Snyder of future games. “His locker room is up and in tip-top shape. We’ll be bringing his jersey with us to all the games. We’re just trying to do justice to a kid that was a great kid who was part of our program.

“Our motto since I started is pretty much, ‘Pound the Rock,’ and that really doesn’t have anything to do with running the football. It means a lot of different things, but one of the things it means is there’s no person any more important on the team than the next guy. Nobody really personified that more than Tucker. He knew his role on the team, and he played it well. And we’re going to remember that and remember him moving forward.”

So will the Northwestern community, who will continue to lift up Tucker’s parents — Jake and Melinda — throughout the days ahead.

“If somebody’s chips are down, there’s honestly a village to sit there and prop you back up, do whatever it takes to get you what you need, or just to be there for you,” said Zimmerman. “I don’t know if it’s unique to Northwestern Lehigh, I just don’t know, but you’ve seen it time and time and time again, no matter who it is, no matter what the situation, you just have an entire community right there behind you. And it gives people strength, it gives people hope. There is good in this world.

“Everything went off better than expected, better than anybody could have hoped for. I think that the goal was to really pay tribute to Tucker and really show his family just how much Northwestern Lehigh supports them and their family during their time of need. If you glanced up when Coach Snyder and his team pointed toward the family and pounded their chest, Jake — his father — gave them the thumbs up back. It was just breathtaking, and I’m not sure there was a dry eye in the stadium. I just thought the respect from the fans on both sides was just classy, and I thought it did Tucker justice.”