Annual game brings community together By: Molly Lucido, sage cole & maddie pflaum
BEFORE YOU READ | North’s annual rival game against South took place on Oct.25 on our home field. Despite the chilly 50-degree weather, North showed up to support their team on the sidelines. The game followed the community tailgate and had a blackout theme. Although the Norsemen ended the evening with a 3-44 loss against the Blue Devils, their endless support or loyalty to their team never wavered.
WINNING AS ONE | Taking the win against South in the stunt contest, captain of the cheer team Zoe Newsome credits the win to the family-like connection formed between the girls. “We went into it knowing that we were going to win because of the bond that we have as a team, but I was kind of shocked because I was new to that stunt group,” Newsome said.
PHOTO CREDIT | Maddie Pflaum
DETERMINATION IN THE DEN | From our rivals across town, senior and leader of the Devil’s Den Evan Bernard spent extra time promoting and hyping up their student section. He wanted to ensure that they carried the same energy that they have at home, if not more, because it is such a beloved game amongst community members. “We had to make sure people knew how big of a game it was because it was a rivalry game,” Bernard said.
PHOTO CREDIT | Maddie Pflaum
LOUD AND PROUD | Being one of four leaders of the Norseman tide, senior Jack Sendoykas put his all into ensuring that students stay enthusiastic through all four quarters of the game. Although down on the scoreboard the entire game, Sendoykas managed to pump up the student section until the final second. “You know, we did the best we could with the amount of loss we had during the game,” Sendoykas said. “We just had to keep up the hype and I think everybody did a great job.”
PHOTO CREDIT | Maddie Pflaum
EVERY POINT COUNTS | Scoring the only three points in the game, freshman kicker Marshall Pata put numbers on the scoreboard just before halftime. Even though the game didn’t turn out the way they had hoped, Pata was optimistic that they would grow from this. “ I think we played hard and I'm really proud of myself and the team for making some memories that we will look back on as fuel for next year's game,” Pata said.
PHOTO CREDIT | Maddie Pflaum
READY FOR BATTLE | Senior captain James Shefferly feels it is his responsibility to encourage his teammates before major games like the North-South game.“Before a big game, I like to walk around to the guys and try to ease the nerves,” Shefferly said. “ Talking through our plays, talking about sports, or just plain small talk to try and make them feel better. After doing this I like to bang helmets with the guys and yell to get the boys hype and ready to play right before kickoff.”
PHOTO CREDIT | Maddie Pflaum
UNITED IN RIVALRY | Recognizing that the annual rivalry game against South is more than just football, James Shefferly believes it allows the players to connect as a family. “We did brutal conditioning and hitting to prepare ourselves for the big game,” Shefferley said. “As well, I wanted to set the example that we need to be connected as a brotherhood rather than teammates.”
PHOTO CREDIT | Maddie Pflaum