It was about two years ago that I attended my first homecoming game. I was a freshman at the time, and it was Saturday afternoon. The bright sun had many in the bleachers dripping with sweat. It was like a tailgate, with food, music, games, and of course football. Everyone was dressed in green, screaming and shouting for the football players. It was a time to bond with friends and make memories. All the grades were together laughing with one another and it seemed to be an event that everyone enjoyed. The homecoming game has occurred over the course of the last five years; however, this year, the game wasn’t brought back.

“The only reason why we didn’t have homecoming this year was because of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 as we were planning the fall schedule,” PV athletic director Shawn Buchanan said. “When finalizing the football schedule over the summer, we could not, at that time, commit to and begin advertising for a homecoming game.”

To most people, not having this game raised a bit of an eyebrow. With this amazing football season, each game has had an incredible crowd. This homecoming game could’ve brought back more normalcy to the school. This year we had a normal football season and we now have normal Valley Cups. Yet, the last homecoming game was almost two years ago. 

Every high school enjoys the spirited students showing up to these kinds of events, supporting the team and their school, win or lose. At the homecoming game, I attended as a freshman and we were in the back on the stands. Everyone knows the tradition of freshmen always getting picked on, but it’s nothing except joking around. Being together with the older grades helped create bonds with them while cheering for our team. It was a way to bring people together. 

Football games have always been one of the craziest events students can attend. There are screaming fans and school-spirited outfits at these football games as well as students going all out with their outfits and cheers.

Next year, hopefully, all will be normal and the game will be brought back. COVID-19 made a large impact on everyone around us, including events like these. But hey, at least we have a Valley Cup this year. In the following year ahead of us, we will continue to keep adding more and more big events to this school.