Homecoming Game Wins Despite the Loss
October 22, 2016
The night had finally come to wrap up spirit week, the homecoming football game. Students of Freehold Township rallied up in hot pink to show love to their Patriots. The bleacher creatures were alive and ready to scream their heart and lungs out to cheer on their team. Students, teachers, friends, and parents alike squeezed shoulder to shoulder in order to watch the long anticipated game from the bleachers.
The game began as the Patriots stormed onto the field, the student section chanting in the background. It was apparent that spectators were ready for a good game.
Patriots won the initial coin toss, and chose to receive.
Township turned the ball over to the Howell Rebels, and the Rebels use this momentum to gain a first down; ultimately scoring the first touchdown of the night. After a short period of time, Howell finds an opportunity and runs the ball for another touchdown, leading to a 2 point conversion.
But the Patriots don’t let this get to them. They bounce back, putting 7 points on the board with a hook and ladder to Senior Adrian Rybaltowski, and a field goal by Tyler Schulman. This leaves the game at 15-7 at half time.
The cheerleaders kicked off half time, mesmerizing the crowd with their flips, tricks, and tosses.
Then, the “pride of Freehold Township”, the Marching Patriots took the field to perform this year’s setlist, consisting of all Billy Joel songs. The Color Guard accompanied them, leaving the crowd in awe of their hand-eye coordination skills.
Finally, the moment the senior class had all been waiting for: the announcement of this year’s homecoming king and queen. The court smiled and waved at the crowd as they took a joy ride in golf carts passed the bleachers. As the court lined up for a group picture, students anxiously waited, hoping their favorite candidate would take the crown.
Coming as no surprise to anybody, Serge Jean-Charles name was announced over the speakers, deeming him as FTHS’s homecoming king. The crowd roared with excitement, everyone screaming their hearts out with their hands thrown into the air. The energy of the student section was electrified, as they started chanting “Serge! Serge! Serge!”. (Serge later reacted to this moment on twitter, tweeting “I’m king of freehold high school”.)
Grace Ganz’s name was next to be announced, making her Township’s homecoming queen. The crowd cheered for her and Serge as they did a victory lap around the field in a golf cart, waving to their subjects.
As halftime came to a close, it was go time once again.
Howell got the ball on the 20 yard line to start the second half, after a touchback on the opening kickoff. After some time and the ball going back and forth, Howell earns another touchdown and extra point, making the score 22-7. But the Patriots kept fighting.
Quarterback Charles Sabbagh finds Max Nowak for another touchdown, making the score 22-13.
Township’s onside kick winds up giving the ball back to Howell at the 50 yard line. Howell advances, but Township intercepts in the end zone with little time in the game to spare.
Ultimately, the Patriots gracefully take the first loss of the season, making their record 6-1.
Senior Claire Studer sums up the game best though, saying, “At the end of the day Township is still winning because we have Serge”.