It’s that time of the year again: Students, alumni, and parents flood the stands of the football field, anticipation steadily building, as the stresses of the week are let go. As the sun begins to set, the towering floodlights take over and illuminate the field. It’s just mere minutes until kickoff. Pep-talks and last-minute preparations are happening in the locker rooms. The student sections and the cheer teams are ready to support their schools, chants carrying across the field. Then it happens: Both teams storm onto the field, taking their places on the sidelines. The referee’s whistle shrieks, and the Friday Night Lights are on.
The Griffith High School Football team played their home opener against Highland on August 23, 2024, at the Boneyard. Kickoff was at 7:00 P.M. The Panthers secured a 56-0 victory, setting the hopes high for the rest of the season.
Griffith started strong and kept the momentum going. Three minutes into the first quarter, they had already scored 14 points. Throughout the game, the Panthers showed both great offense and defense. They got many yards in and quickly neutralized Highland whenever they had the ball.
By the end of the game, Griffith had gained 150 passing yards, 216 rushing yards, coming in at 366 total yards; Highland with 39, 8, and 47, respectively.
Senior team captain, linebacker, and H-back Nolan Davenport remarked on what they did well. “It was important to dominate on both sides of the ball, and our first offensive drive proved that we could do that.”
Senior kicker Ryan Rose talked about his mindset while kicking. “The more you think during the swing of your leg, the more likely you are to mess up. You have to keep your head clear.”
Head football coach Phil Mason discussed his goals for the team. He spoke about the culture that he and the coaching staff were trying to promote: Commitment first, work ethic second, and attitude towards success third. He hopes that his players will take those core values and apply them to everything in and outside of football.
Now that coach Mason has been at Griffith for a full year, he’s planning on building from what he’s tried to instill in his players. “I just think that our expectations are much greater this year.” He hopes that the team can go on to win the conference and sectional.
Regarding last Friday’s game, Mason said, “I think it went great. We really talked about not making mistakes and staying consistent, and we were successful in that. I think it was a really good start for us, but we’ve gotta stay humble.”
The Panthers will go on to play the Mustangs at Munster on August 30.
