‘Confessions of a Football Dummy’

By Patric Hedlund

This story is told through the eyes of a football dummy. I know next to nothing about the mechanics of the game. But I do know a great deal about team sports as the glue of this community, and often the core of family and school life here. Last Friday, at the first Falcon football game of the year, I was deeply impressed by this hometown pageant, and by the transformation taking place in these young players before our eyes….

The weather was perfect for the first football game of the 2014 season last Friday, Aug. 29 at Frazier Mountain High School’s Falcon Field. Here are my notes:

It is one of those glorious early fall nights. A slight breeze of sweet mountain air tousles the hair of fans as they buy their tickets, greet their friends, then walk up a small hill to the Falcon Field bleachers.
Proud moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents, neighbors and friends are all here to support the student athletes who trot onto the field in their massive shoulder pads and gleaming helmets, proudly wearing the Falcons’ blue and white uniforms.

The squad looks sharp.

19 varsity players

As the team takes the field for kick-off, it is surprising to see there are very few players left on the sidelines. A glance at the roster explains why. The Falcon varsity has…

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Photo captions:

Taylor Mason #53, Matthew Regan #6 and the Falcon team, weary, dirty and hurt after the first home football game of the season

Fans of all ages—kindergartners to grandparents— came to enjoy the Falcon’s first home game
Friday, Aug. 29.

Teacher Suellen Brown (in jersey 97) sold tickets at Falcon Field for the first home game of the 2014 football season. The Franti family with sons in second and fourth grade wait in line.

Fans in the bleachers were quick to share the opening night journey with the Falcons, doing their part with encouraging cheers.

Below: Cheerleader Sash Johnston with JV player Anthony Aguilar’s jersey, #52, drawn on her cheek.

The Falcon Cheer Team—dressed in blue and white—wave their shiny silver pompoms.

Trainer Eddie Haflich assists with a slammed knee.

Jacob Webber has the purr-fect private cheering section.

Coach Russell Heasley is intense on the field, shouting plays, watching every move.

This is part of the September 5, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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