By Chris Mayhew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DAYTON, Ky. - What do you get when you put a couple of generations of former Campbell County football players together and give them badges, helmets, a Sunday afternoon and a cause?

IF YOU GO

What: Police vs. Fire Football Game. When: 6 p.m. today. Where: Dayton High School football stadium on Vine Street. Admission: $5, students $3, free to children under 7. Halftime show: Includes a dance performance by the Cincinnati Ben-Gals, a K-9 demonstration and a SWAT demonstration.

The first Police vs. Fire Football Game to raise money for a very sick youngster and other law enforcement causes.

They've trained, they've taunted, and today they play. Luckily, they're all trained in CPR, just in case.

Normally close in their rescue operations, police and firefighters from Campbell County will take to the gridiron as opponents for a showdown on the Dayton High School football field.

"We anticipate a stunning defeat for the Fire Department. On our defensive line we don't have anybody under 250 pounds," said Dayton Police officer Bret Wiley, defensive coordinator for the police team.

While the police are relying on a defensive line, the firefighters said they are relying on speed ... and a secret weapon.

"Youth and athleticism will always prove victorious," said Eric Murphy, a firefighter with the Bellevue-Dayton Fire Department, and a team captain.

"We anticipate a versatile offense in both the air and running," said Officer Joe Euton, offensive coordinator for the police. "We have a couple plays named after police calls and one in honor of Natalie Cross."

Natalie, 2, is the daughter of Captain Elliot Cross of the Florence EMS Squad. Funds from admission will help for hyperbaric oxygen treatment that may help her in recovery from a severe brain injury.

Some of the funds will go to help fund the DARE program at Lincoln Elementary in Dayton, and for the development of the Dayton Police Regional K-9 Obstacle Course.

E-mail cmayhew@enquirer.com