Alright, let me tell you about something I did the other week. I found myself with a free Friday night, which doesn’t happen often, let me tell you. Scrolling through local stuff, I saw Becton HS had a football game. Haven’t been to a high school football game in, heck, probably fifteen years? Maybe more. Just decided, why not? See what it’s like these days.
So, I drove over there. Finding parking was exactly how I remembered high school games – a bit of a mess. Had to park a few blocks away and walk over. No big deal, the weather was nice, crisp fall air starting to set in. As I got closer, you could hear the announcer, the band playing bits and pieces, that whole familiar soundscape.
Got my ticket, just a simple paper thing, walked in. The lights felt brighter than I remembered, or maybe my eyes are just older. Found a spot on the bleachers, kinda midway up. It wasn’t super packed, but a decent crowd. Lots of families, students, the usual mix.
Watching the Game… Sort Of
Now, I watched the game, sure. Saw some good plays, some fumbles, the things you expect. But what really caught my attention wasn’t so much the score or the strategy. It was the sidelines and the stands.
I saw the coaches, pacing, yelling instructions. You could see how intense they were, how much they were invested. Then you look at the players on the bench, some watching intently, others just chatting, being teenagers. It’s this weird mix of serious business and just kids hanging out.
And the Parents!
Man, the parents. You had the ones super dialed into every single play, practically ready to run on the field themselves. Then you had others just chatting, catching up with neighbors, keeping an eye on younger kids running around near the concession stand. Speaking of which, I wandered over there at halftime.
- Got myself a pretty standard hot dog. Tasted exactly like every high school game hot dog ever.
- Saw the volunteers working the stand. Looked like parents, maybe some teachers? Bustling around, handling cash, pouring sodas.
- It struck me how much volunteer effort goes into these things. It’s not just the game; it’s the whole operation around it.
Just Thinking About It
Leaving the game (I think Becton won? Honestly wasn’t paying close enough attention to the final score), I was just thinking about the whole scene. It felt… real. Unpolished, you know? Not like the pro games you see on TV. Just local folks, kids playing hard, parents supporting, coaches coaching. It’s a community thing.
Made me remember my own high school days a bit, though I wasn’t a football guy myself. Just that feeling of Friday nights, the local rivalries, the whole small-town vibe around the team. It’s funny how some things change so much, and others, like the feeling of being at a high school football game on a cool Friday night, feel almost exactly the same. It was a good way to spend a few hours, just soaking that in again.
