Varsity football: Cowboys tackle Senior Night

BY KAYLA GATES

After an abundance of delays due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and recent tropical storm, the Cooper City High School football program was finally able to celebrate Senior Night at their first home game of the season. The Cowboys took on South Broward, facing a 12-0 loss. 

Although originally scheduled for Friday, November 13, a series of rain delays prompted the matchup to be moved to the following week. The rescheduled game took place on Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m., at the Cooper City High School stadium.

Being one of the only home games of the season, the athletic department took the opportunity to hold its annual Senior Night. The field was decorated with signs displaying senior players. The recent changes to county policy allowed for cheerleaders, fans and the band to fill the stadium.

The first quarter kicked off to an exciting start for the Cowboys. As noise filled the limited-capacity stadium, the team was able to execute a series of successful plays. However, with each drive down the field, the Bulldogs’ defense was able to block their ability to score.

The first quarter kicked off to an exciting start for the Cowboys.

The second quarter proceeded similarly. The gameplay appeared relatively even, as each team took turns possessing the ball for a short period before turning it over. Neither the Cowboys nor the Bulldogs were able to convert their plays into a touchdown throughout the quarters.

At the half, both teams retreated in order to regroup and adjust their strategies. With a score of 0-0, the Cowboys were anxious to put some points on the board. However, with the whistle signifying the second half of the game, it appeared as if their opponents had the same mindset.

The third quarter played out relatively the same as those before it. The Cowboys continued to run the ball on offense, but were unable to get past the Bulldogs’ solid defensive line.

The fourth quarter finally put the scoreboard to use. After a series of first downs, South Broward was able to score the first touchdown of the game. The Bulldogs missed the extra point, making the score 6-0. The Cowboys attempted to recover with the little time they had left. However, South Broward managed to score yet again as time ran out, bringing the final score to 12-0.

“I loved playing football for the first time,” senior Jake Hicks said. “I got to try it out with all new people and I made a lot more friends.”

“I loved playing football for the first time.”

Senior Jake Hicks

Senior Night was not only for football players. Members of the cheerleading team and the Sound of Pride also utilized the opportunity to congratulate their upperclassmen. The celebration was bittersweet for many, as the majority of the fall season has been confined to this game alone.

However, seniors made the best of their situation. Graduating cheerleaders wore crowns and sashes, and were each awarded a bouquet of flowers. Members of the Sound of Pride were also given sashes to wear for the evening. All seniors had the opportunity to take photographs with their peers, coaches and family members in front of a large red, black and white banner.

“With the restrictions and regulations we had to follow, senior night was very different from past years,” senior Samantha Sigal said. “It’s a tradition many of us expected would be canceled, so I was beyond excited when I found out we would have one.”

Photo courtesy of Principal Vera Perkovic on Twitter