When school begins, stress levels among teenagers rise drastically as their assignments pile up and sports practices become more frequent. However – amid the August chaos – home football games commence, giving the students something to look forward to. During the school week before a game, conversations are filled with talk of Friday night. The players work tirelessly at practice, while students work tirelessly on their outfits. All grades were eager for the first home game this year, but nothing could top the freshmen’s anticipation.
The Dubs’ home stadium in Midtown has an electrifying environment that middle school football games lack. The picturesque view of Atlanta’s skyline is the perfect backdrop for the thrilling games. On Friday nights, when the sun dips below the horizon, hundreds of North Atlanta students flood the stands, eager to cheer on their peers. Freshman Ellery Brannen was awestruck by the liveliness and spirit at her first high school football game. “Before the game, I was skeptical about what I was getting myself into,” said Brannen. “But, once I got to the game, I was very impressed by the enormous crowd that was full of energy and ready to show love to their team.”
As soon as a theme is announced, students browse their closets and shop on Amazon to find the perfect outfit. The attire is a big appeal that encourages students to attend the game. From themes like neon to jungle, students always put together quite the look. Freshman Maggie Wise’s favorite part was picking out outfits to match with her friends. “The themes were super creative, so we had fun with our outfits,” said Wise. “For the tropical game, we were mermaids, and for the jungle game, we were cheetahs.”
On the other hand, watching a live high school football game is the biggest attraction for some freshmen. Following tradition, the freshmen stand at the top of the bleachers during the game. This gives them a great view of the entire field. Freshman Brannon Batson was extremely impressed by the level of play at the high school level. “Seeing the difference between the middle school team and this team was crazy,” said Batson. “The winning touchdown in the last game got me and the rest of the student section so hyped.”
The Warrzone (North Atlanta’s student section) never disappoints. Students don’t just show up, they show out. This year, the upperclassmen have shown the freshmen what real fans are. These lucky freshmen have four more years under the Friday night lights. However, it is up to them to maintain the Warrzone’s remarkable energy.
