Homecoming Football Game Preview: Sneak-peek at the game, halftime and crowning

The homecoming football game this Friday, Sept. 27, has been moved up to 3:30 p.m. from the initial 7 p.m. start time to avoid inclement weather. This has also impacted the halftime events for the evening. 

With the game now being right after school, one of the main concerns the football team has to take into account is being focused and ready to play, according to senior quarterback Ryan Bolin. Though they hope to win against Shawnee Mission Northwest, coach Justin Hoover says the most important thing is that they play their best.

“We’re not going to be defined by the scoreboard,” Hoover said. “If we do what we need to do, play in and play out, the scoreboard will take care of itself. We’re really focused on one day at a time, one play at a time.”

The band and varsity drill team will be debuting their halftime performance at tomorrow’s game, after having been rained out during the first home game. From their eight-hour practices in July to their 7 a.m. practices in the school year, they have been practicing counts and formations together.

“[When performing] there’s adrenaline and excitement,” drum major and senior Shelby Winter said. “Once you’re finished with it, you just feel so satisfied. And I hope everyone feels that satisfaction because everyone’s worked incredibly hard.”

The theme for this year’s show is Irish Rhapsody, consisting of three different movements of performance. They will only be doing the first two movements at this game, since the third isn’t as rehearsed.

Initially, the homecoming queen, king and attendants were to be announced during halftime before the performance. As of Thursday morning, administration moved the announcement to after the game, hoping that the bad weather holds off. 

Despite last minute complications, the candidates are still looking forward to the game and the dance Saturday night. 

“I really like all the other girls, they’re all really great people and easy to get along with,” queen candidate and senior Janie Carr said. “It’s really cool [just to] stretch out of my comfort zone of people that I usually hang out with and be able to talk to them [more].”