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It’s August. School is back in session, and high school football teams are in full gear, practicing every day for the upcoming season, which will open Friday night with a game at Science Hill High School for the Elizabethton Cyclones. Also, most of the county schools play their first game of the season August 18.
Elizabethton is definitely a football town. First and foremost, the community aspect of small-town high school football cannot be replaced. It’s been around for as long as many of us can remember. It is the place where champions are born and made. On gamedays, everyone wears their school colors, and each community – Elizabethton, Hampton, Cloudland, Unaka, and Happy Valley – rally around their team.
Whether you’re a player, band member, cheerleader, or fan, there is a sense of unity that is unmatched. Because it’s not just the school that’s being represented in a game, oftentimes it’s the town, county, and community on display as well.
Local football players in the past have made their mark in a big way. They have represented their schools well. Some have went on to play college ball, others, such as Jason Witten, have played Major League football and have represented their community well. Others have gone into coaching or have become leaders in the community.
The games seem to be more intense when it’s town against town rather than just school against school. The Cyclone-Hilltoppers game is always an intense and exciting rivalry. There’s something special about playing a game with teammates you’ve known your entire life against opponents you have come to know and respect. And over time intense rivalries develop. There’s a lot of pride riding on these games.
When you check the scores Saturday morning, there is more than meets the eye. Often, it’s not just undersized kids enjoying their high school glory days. It’s much more than that. It’s the pride and passion they have not only for the fame of football, but for their school and community.
In Carter County and Elizabethton, football not only gives people somewhere to go on a Friday night but something to believe in. It unites the community. High school football is a big deal. Going to the Friday night game is the thing to do. The younger kids love hanging out with their friends, playing behind the end zones and idolizing their hometown stars on the field. People love to be a part of a successful program. When you can watch a game and cheer on your team, it makes you feel like you’re a part of it.
There are so many players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans that everyone can feel like they have a place. They can feel like they have a role that matters. And that’s what makes it so great. That’s why small towns love football.
Sports often lift us to a better place in our toughest moments.
Resolve to support your favorite teams this year by attending their games and cheering for them.