A temperate fall night welcomes an enthusiastic crowd as students, athletes, alumni,  and parents join to watch homecoming festivities at Edison High School. A longtime tradition, the Homecoming Game is a long awaited night for many members of the community. There was an especially large crowd with COVID-19 restrictions being eased in recent months. 

“Homecoming in my opinion has a lot more school spirit and more people show up to the game,” said Remee Roy ’23.  “It showed how many people showed up to not only support the football team but also the cheerleaders and band”.

The night started with the arrival of the opposing team— Piscataway. As the Eagles faced the Chiefs, the first quarter concluded with no points for either team. However, the second quarter saw ten points for Edison and seven for Piscataway. During the second half, Edison earned twenty-one additional points, putting them twenty-four points ahead. Piscataway gained eight points in the last quarter, but the victory still belonged to Edison as the final score read 31-15. 

The game witnessed three total rushing touchdowns from Jordan White ‘22, Mathew Yascko ‘23, and Terrel Perez ‘22, and one receiving touchdown from Joe Greer ‘22. Further, Selbin Sabio ‘22 contributed seven total points through four PATs (point after touchdown) and one field goal. Nevertheless, all these efforts were assisted by the entire team: Saidu Conteh ‘23 with an interception, Jaden Peart ‘22 with 105 all purpose yards and two punt returns, Malcolm Stansbury ‘22 with a kickoff return. 

From the statistics, the Homecoming Game seems like any ordinary match. However, numbers cannot measure the moment. The crowd expanded, the atmosphere shifted, and the pressure intensified.

Mathew Yascko ‘23, varsity quarterback, said, “The homecoming game is different because of the atmosphere. There are a lot more people, a lot more students, and some added pressure.”

The “Homecoming” title gives meaning to an ordinary game, energizing everyone inside this ecosystem of spirit. The tradition of Homecoming dates back to alumni football games at colleges in the nineteenth century. While the focus on alumni has faded, the event still comes to represent spirit and fond high-school memories: a feeling that students seek to preserve and cherish.

Halftime this year was also unprecedented, as the marching band faced technical difficulties and rearranged their show to perform without both band directors. Usually, this portion of the game consists of a full performance of the band’s show, however, this year, the musicians adapted to their different circumstances. 

Adedoyin Ayeni ‘23 said, “This year we were unable to perform because of difficulties concerning electronics and who would help us during the show since [Mr. Denicuolo] and Mr. Ciappina were out.” 

Nevertheless, the band contributed music from the stands, adding to the crowd’s cheers. All of these pieces—the crowd, the band, the athletes, even the rivals—make up a football game. When facing the prominence of Homecoming, these groups still executed their responsibilities, acknowledging the pressure and enjoying the thrill. In the end, Homecoming enlivened and excited these groups with only the light-hearted feelings of high school.