The Buildup:
The homecoming game this year was great and did not disappoint. The theme of the blackout was a hit. New Kings and Queens were crowned and the no-school day made it an even more anticipated game. This allowed students to have more time to get ready and rest for the big game day ahead. The buildup was felt throughout the week due to a three-day week paired with spirit week. Players were feeling confident throughout the week feeling like it was their turn to dominate the game. Every detail, play, and rep factor into each week’s performance. The hype was all around the Raptors football team and they delivered by remembering the little things paired with playing confident.
Spirit:
From freshmen to seniors, nearly everyone participated by wearing all-black clothing and using eye black or other accessories to add to their outfits. The spirit leaders were great as usual with their speakers, megaphones, and unwavering spirit. We asked a few students about the spirit at the game and got a lot of input. We first started off with Joey Schady. When asked what he thought about the homecoming game, he said: “The football team is surprisingly good this year which is great for the student section. It gives the students even more of a reason to show up to the game besides the great student section vibes.” Thomas Hershey said, “I could feel the spirit running through the student section all the way from Sewanee.” Wow! That sure is a long distance to feel the raptor pride from! The spirit leaders seemed to think differently though, with Sousa Waggoner saying: “The school spirit was good but the USA game was better. The freshmen also had little spirit and were all spread out everywhere. I also think the Ravenel stadium is better because it has a mysterious aura,” commenting on the poor spirit of the freshman. Street Wilson and Chloe Trowman also commented on the lack of spirit, saying it was “embarrassing.” Street went on to say how “the underclassman should spend time learning the cheers so when they are called on they are ready.”What a great point, Street! Finally, we asked another spirit leader, Katie Sheffield. She commented: “The homecoming game was the most hype even though it was at D4 and it’s harder to hear the spirit leaders there. The underclassmen are finally learning the cheers which makes the student section more hype. The football team is doing well and it is a lot of fun to cheer. Max Peters rocks it!” Overall, the spirit appeared to be present but was better at other games such as the USA game, which had the best turnout so far.
Team Performance:
The team played very well, with a great win of 43-7. This easily could be the greatest win of the year. They started off strong and never looked back. It could have been a shutout as well if not for the late touchdown scored by Saint John’s. Chloe Trowman commented on the team’s performance, saying: “The team played great,” while others said very similar things, noting the team’s excellent performance. Going into the season strong, the Raptors have a 3-2 record, which is very notable for the team. They hope to build this moment into the rest of this season and potentially make a run for the playoffs if they are lucky enough to bag some more wins. With the support of the AMHS birdcage, the sky’s the limit for this team with great senior leaders such as Donovan Hamilton, Max Peters, and Logan Burns. I believe that the Raptor’s football team is built for this success with a great run game that can wear a team down. This aspect paired with talented wideouts is a recipe for triumph.
Homecoming Court:
Being the homecoming game, it is crucial to go over the homecoming king, queen, and court. The court was decided by a Google Form sent to the student body and the it was announced at half-time. The nominees were all brought out, photographed, and put in line to hear the announcement of the winners. The homecoming court had many nominees with many choices to vote for. As for the guys, the nominees were Noah Orza, Max Peters, Garrison Gray, Fritz Browning, Zachary Butler, Donovan Hamilton, Oliver Winbrinner, and Robert. From the girls, the nominees were Jenna Hallaba, Lane Yarborough, Cammile, Kimmy Do, Zoe Hutson, Hailey Taylor, Katie Sheffield, Evie Waldorf, and Grace Griffin. The homecoming court was created with six of these candidates. From the girls, the runner-up was Camille Ross, and the homecoming queen was Kimmy Do. From the guys, the first runner-up was Max Peters and the homecoming king was Zachary Butler, AKA the student body president. When called upon, the nominees heard loud cheers from the crowd, the biggest being Fredrick Browning, Zach Butler, and Kimmy Do. In the end, the winners were decided by students’ votes throughout the week. As it turns out, many students voted and the consensus was made overwhelmingly.
Conclusion:
In summary, everyone found the homecoming game to be a wonderful time. A massive victory, an energetic student section, and the announcement of the new homecoming court all contributed to the thrilling and vibrant environment. Spirit week paired with this game is always something special and a tradition that will continue (hopefully) as long as Academic Magnet exists. Thanks to the upperclassmen’s enthusiasm and the football team’s impressive performance, the night was a great success. The team’s promise was demonstrated by the Raptors’ 43-7 victory, which served as a highlight for the rest of the season. This year’s homecoming game set a high bar thanks to the senior leadership’s strong leadership and the student body’s increased support. As seniors now, we can confidently say that having spirit is something that you should take pride in because you only have so many high school football games, so make sure you enjoy them to the fullest!
