In a tragic incident in Chesterfield County, Virginia, which is south of Richmond, police said two teenagers were stabbed, and a coach was attacked during a high school football practice.

Chesterfield Police confirmed to WRIC-8, an ABC affiliate, that the two football standouts were protecting their coach when they were ambushed with a knife. The county’s police chief, Jeffrey Katz, called the teens “heroes.”

A disgruntled father, whose son plays on the team, is accused of carrying out the violent act that started with a fight on the football field.

According to 8News, officers say a player on the team was reprimanded by a coach and dismissed from football practice. 8News is told that player returned back to the field with his father and things quickly escalated. Chesterfield Police say the 17-year-old started physically assaulting his coach. Two other players, a 17 and 18 year old, jumped into action to protect their coach.

The player’s father, 46-year-old Turon Savoy, pulled out a knife and stabbed the teens in the chest and face multiple times and ran from the scene, according to police. Officers eventually arrested him.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that police charged Savoy with two counts of malicious wounding. The two injured players went to a hospital with puncture and laceration wounds to the face and chest, Life Christian administrator Mike Cherry said. The students, ages 17 and 18, have been released and are expected to make a full recovery.