During an action-packed start to high school football season Friday, Killeen ISD’s school spirit was on full display.
With large enthusiastic crowds cheering on a pair of home games at Buckley and Searles stadiums, it was the band keeping the beat and cheerleaders, mascots and other spirit groups keeping enthusiasm high.
As it turned out, the Harker Heights High School large student section, along with the Red Brigade Band and Knights cheerleaders put in overtime at Joseph L. Searles, III Stadium as the Knights outlasted Cedar Park in a five-overtime-period marathon.
Week 1 was Teacher Appreciation Night at the Harker Heights game.
Players chose a teacher to stand with them during the National Anthem. A member of the Knight’s Crew elementary student group also chose a player to accompany during the anthem.
Members of the school choir led the anthem and the school song. A Junior ROTC color guard displayed the flags.
“It’s fun,” said Harker Heights senior cheer captain Eleanor Burns. “I like to get the crowd involved, get them really hyped,” she said.
Going into senior year as the cheer team leader can be daunting. “The team is relying on me, so I have to set an example. It’s really fun at the same time.”
“The adrenaline is crazy; you get so excited down here. You want to interact with the crowd and make eye contact and get everyone excited for the game,” said junior Kenzi Jarrett, cheer co-captain.
“It’s so exciting,” she said. “This whole day I was so excited leading up to this and we’re finally here.”
The pair urged area fans to come to the games to root on the Knights and take in the thrills of Friday Night Lights.
Between two closely fought halves of football, the two bands performed, including the Red Brigade Band, Avalon color guard and Crimson Belles dance team.
A large, fired-up student section made their voices heard as well. Students dressed in reflective vests to go with a “Caution Building Champions” game day theme.
While football teams begin their non-district schedules on their way to the district slate and run to the playoffs, the bands are building shows each week on their way to the region band contest in October.
One of four Harker Heights drum majors, junior Joshua Duenas, said the band was excited to get on the field to show off the start of this year’s show, which has a water theme. Its title is a Latin term translated “water goddess.”
“I think it’s a great experience, great energy,” he said. “Everyone is excited to perform in front of the school. There is still nervousness because it’s the first game. There’s always a fun adrenaline that happens.”
About this year’s show, he said, “I love the movement of it, the dynamic contrast.”
See our photo gallery from the Harker Heights Knights and Killeen High Kangaroos games: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720319953328
and https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBFBFh
The fun of football and all the spirit that accompanies it is just getting started and this year it is more accessible than ever.
Games are streamed live in a variety of KISD sports through the free hudl fan platform.
Access all five KISD high school teams at https://www.killeenisd.org/hudl
Also, KISD Communications and Marketing is using Flickr to post photo albums of a variety of events. Those albums are accessible at https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/
Check out our news stories at this location regularly to see KISD sports reporter Josh Weaver’s ongoing reports and go to KISD Sports on Facebook.
