By BETH ALTON
Niles Daily Star

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 marked the first, the second, just another and a final high school fall homecoming for students at Niles High School.

Between dress up week, a parade through the hall, school work and the pep rally raps, the seniors barely had time to even think about it being their last. The students streamed through halls Friday morning, painted in school spirit ready for the day to be start, but even more for the day to be over.

About the halls was the anxious varsity football team including Nathan Draper, Chris Lary, Dan Carlson and Bryan Evans, all seniors, that would later that night face their rivalry Portage Northern.

The guys have all been playing since elementary school and still have the passion and excitement for every game that they play.

Despite the negative comments from the students in the schools and the newspapers, these football players still keep their heads held high, ready for the fight brought on the field every Friday night.

“I actually like it when people say negative things, it makes me even stronger and want to prove them wrong,” Evans said.

Just like in the movies, the players get to choose their numbers and they normally have a significant meaning to them.

Draper played football only his sophomore and now his senior year, he chose number 28 both years. He was inspired by Coach Short.

“If it wasn’t for him,” he said. “I never would have tried out this year.”

Evans looks up to Matt Richardson, inspiring him in football, and having the same number of 52.

Instead of being inspired by an individual like the other guys, Carlson recently read a book which inspired him to be the strong player he is. He is number 51 and Lary is number 35.

To get ready for a game, the players all together have pre-game warm ups, they get speeches from the coaches, and finally, there is the tunnel.

Those who haven’t been to a high school football game might not know just how adrenaline pumping it really is.

After the National Anthem is played by the band, they march forming a tunnel with the cheerleaders at the end holding a banner for the football players to run through.

At the beginning of the tunnel, the football team huddles yelling and jumping, then they run through to the end breaking the banner.

All of the football players before the game, will concentrate on what they are going to be doing, and how they are going to win.

To all of the underclassmen and football players heading to Niles High School, Lary had these words of advice, “Don’t take advantage of your position, don’t slack off, and listen to your coaches,” he said. “Your positions can always be taken away from you.”

Unfortunately, the school spirit, speeches, tunnel and warm up was not enough for the Niles varsity football team to win Friday night.

After facing Portage Northern, Niles lost with a score of 47-14.

Some might wonder what it would take to make this team win. Be it the coaches, the players or a miracle, it may take a lot.

For now, however, fans can look forward to the one homecoming the rarely lets them down, winter basketball.

Beth Alton is currently a student at Niles High School serving as an intern for the Niles Daily Star.