A member of the Homecoming Court, senior Lola Aguilar walks alongside her father. She was later announced as Homecoming Royalty on Saturday, Sept. 28 during the Homecoming dance.

Junior Michael-Jacob Tolson, a running back, stares at the field in shock and happiness about a third quarter touchdown. “I felt good [after the touchdown] however we weren’t finished with the game and had to end it.” Tolson rushed 46 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Phoenix.

Junior Xavier Smith, a wide receiver/defensive back breaks a tackle. Smith ended the day with 59 rushing yards and six receiving yards..

Cheerleader senior Jaden Thomas yells cheers at the student section through a cone microphone.

Arm-in-arm with her father, senior Lilia Jones walks toward Principal John Duellman and the crowd. “I tried out [for Homecoming Court] and made it last year, and I always watch the seniors come through during Homecoming, so I decided I wanted to do it in my senior year,” Jones said.

Senior running back Shamar Ferrell and junior quarterback Siddharth Konduri celebrate a touchdown.

At the beginning of the game, the student section was filled with students who left the gym from the tailgate with signs, face paint, and school spirit, ready to support their team. “Usually, our school doesn’t really come up and support us a lot so to see that support really helped us,” junior Paxton So said.

The Phoenix line up to fight against the Bulldogs during the first quarter of the game.

SCA members (from left to right) senior Saanvi Movva, junior Moussa Koroma, and sophomore Jhasi Chilakapati set up a cotton candy machine for the tailgate. “I feel like tailgates bring a lot of school spirit,” Movva said. “One of the main differences is the tailgate is going to be indoors, so it might be a bit different because of that.”