A former defensive back for the Tarkio High School Indians will play Tuesday night in the Longest Yard football classic in Washington, D.C.

If the gridiron imitates politics, Congressman Sam Graves will play cornerback on the right side.

The Northwest Missouri Republican will again participate in the congressional flag football game that benefits the U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund and the Washington Literacy Council.

Mr. Graves, a five-term lawmaker, has been a regular participant in the charity game, which began in 2005. Its name comes from the twice-made movie “The Longest Yard,” in which prisoners form a football team to play their guards.

In this case, members of Congress are the inmates, Capitol Police officers their opponents.

Lawmakers have never won, though tying in the inaugural game. In the last game in 2007, a 28-0 drubbing, Mr. Graves was credited with diving headfirst in the dirt to defend a pass, according to an account by the Roll Call newspaper.

As a bailout of sorts, the police have allowed the lawmakers some ringers. Former Washington

Redskins Ken Harvey and Gary Clark are among the former NFL players on the congressional roster.

Already on the team is Rep. Heath Shuler, a North Carolina Democrat who played pro football and, as a collegian, became a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

For Mr. Graves, football and politics have intersected over the year. When Northwest Missouri State University makes it to the national championship game, he regularly makes a friendly wager with the congressional member who represents the district of the opposing school.

At a 2004 campaign fundraiser for Mr. Graves, then Kansas City Chiefs president Carl Peterson introduced speakers. Earlier this month, the congressman’s campaign committee held a contributors’ event at Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs played the New York Giants.

Tuesday’s game begins at 7:30 p.m. at the District of Columbia Armory. Before the game, a tailgate party will honor local veterans and wounded military personnel from Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval medical centers.

Ken Newton can be reached

at kenn@npgco.com.