Sports and religion are a potent combination, one that siblings Jon and Andrew Erwin (October Baby, Mom's Night Out) exploit to canny effect in their new film based on the real-life Woodlawn High School football team.

Until the balance tips rather too blatantly toward the latter during the final minutes, the overall narrative mix of history lesson, gridiron action and spiritual uplift is effectively and satisfyingly sustained.

Sure, it's an evangelical "Remember the Titans," but at least the Erwin brothers have made an effort, parochially speaking, to go outside the lines.

It isn't nearly as compelling as Freetown... but it is a solid effort.