With the start of this new school year comes a new football season, and a surprisingly optimistic one at that. Six-man football at a private school fueled on individuality was never an easy success story, but it’s a story that is shaping into, nonetheless, something hopeful and proud.

For years, St. Stephens and St. Andrews held a joint football team, and then St. Stephen’s was out on its own. The players, coaches, and fans have risen to the challenge ever since, and they continue to do so now. Just look at the first Varsity home game, which took place recently on September 6th, and it’s hard not to feel invested in our team and their upcoming season. After all, the Spartans ended up winning that game easily with standout performances from many players. On offense, Jones rushed over 78 yards and Walters ran an astounding 111 yards, scoring two rush touchdowns. In Baldwin’s impressive fifteen completions, he managed to gain 239 yards for the team. Their second home game of the season was a nail biting display of sportsmanship, where a single touchdown from the opposing team ended up costing the Spartans the game. Nevertheless, our Spartan players still showed their signature skill, grit, and sportsmanship.

And while the team’s ability grows, so does support for Spartan football. In recent years, St. Stephen’s students have hesitated to view football as a rallying cause, as it is at many local schools. That isn’t to say that our hill lacks pride — in fact, it’s the opposite. Students have been coming together for years to pave social events and support their teams; with this new season, we are seeing that attention turn to our football players more than ever.

There could be a million reasons for the atmosphere shift this year. Most importantly, the team is playing well and putting up a fight that has consistently won them games. The cheerleaders, in new custom uniforms, bring a spirit that energizes the stands even when crickets swarm down. The Apollo Percussion team gives the games an underlying and bold beat that builds excitement and energy. There’s our national anthem singers, and a sports medicine crew that will happily pick up pom-poms and improv moves. There’s students who walk laps on the soft red track, who pause their catching up to celebrate touchdowns. We have seniors who show up to support their captains, dedicated Student Government members with signs, and a group of freshmen who run to the field screaming. There’s call and responses that the crowd shouts back, and stomp routines they make up on their own. The impressive plays from our team leave me optimistic for this season, and the newfound spirit near the field signals big things for the future of football at St. Stephen’s.