The quarterback sprints down the field, rummaging through the herd of players in his way. The band roars as the team scores another touchdown. The student section sends vibrations through the bleachers from their enthusiastic celebrations. This Friday night football game has just become a core memory for all.

In addition to the players, high school football games contain many aspects that make the night electric. From watching coaches rage to seeing trainers rush around the sideline, they work together to create a positive experience for those seeking thrills and entertainment. 

Head Coach Dustin Grande has brought the team to a record of 8-1 in the regular season, hoping to keep this trend as eliminations begin. This statistic is not due to luck, but rather to thorough planning and real dedication to coaching. Grande said, “I spend hours on end breaking down film of the previous game to make corrections, or see things that were done really well and point them out to my players.”

Aside from Grande, athletic trainer Scott Leiter is another figure who keeps Friday night lights up and running. In football, ankle, neck, and head injuries are very common, so Leiter takes steps to prevent them. He has found that “taping is an effective way to prevent ankle sprains… [and] I also give exercise bands and weight-bearing exercises to help strengthen the ankle muscle and increase stability.” Additionally, neck and head injuries can’t be fully prevented, so if they do occur during a game, Leiter has his medical kit and a doctor is ready to go at every home game.

Leiter has aided many important players, using his tricks and skills to ensure quick recovery and safety for all the boys. Without him, many team members could be seated for the remainder of the game, or worse, seriously injured and possibly out for the season. Having such a quick-responding aid provider helps the players and saves the team from a loss.

Additionally, band teacher Ryan Stroud keeps the energy high on game days. Stroud is the band teacher at the high school and runs the pep band at football games. One of Stroud’s techniques is to play very loudly when Kinnelon is on defense. By doing this, the noise creates a distraction for the other team, getting into their heads and helping the Colts score. 

His goal is not to steal the spotlight, but to get people cheering. “We hope that we just bring a little life to the game,” said Stroud. To do this, he makes sure the songs his band plays are well-known, like “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan and “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, to encourage fans to stand up and get loud. Head varsity cheerleading coach Alyssa Haussman choreographs to these songs, so when they are played, the cheerleaders dance to them, providing the crowd with another form of entertainment.

The student section is a final part of the night that gets the crowd riled up. Senior Gianni Nrecaj is known for keeping students loud, throwing colored powder and confetti in the air, and for starting chants to engage everyone at the game. Nrecaj said, “We figure out ways we can help the team win, like playing hype music or calling out specific players, hoping it will spark something in them and motivate them to keep giving it their all.”

Whether it be losing sleep to come up with new game strategies or getting feedback from people on what songs they want to hear during a football game, many pieces contribute to such an engaging environment. Although the players are regularly highlighted at game, many other players off the field contribute to the team’s success.