Tailgating isn’t just for alcoholic beverages and barbeques, especially when it comes to high school football. It’s for football fans and fanatics who enjoy putting on their school spirit hours before the game. Tailgating can be seen as when students get together in the school parking lot or meet at a restaurant nearby for some sustaining food to get them pumped up for the night.

Students not only prepare for the game hours early, but celebrate hours after, whether the result concluded in a win or a loss. In our area, the most popular after-hours eatery is Pluckers because the price is cheap, it stays open until 2 am and students from all over the district gather here almost every Friday night.

“Pluckers is usually extremely crowded Friday nights considering everyone goes, but it’s totally worth it. I love the atmosphere and I love going with a group of my friends for a few hours after the game,” sophomore Emma Bigheart said.

Friday night football games start at 7:30 pm, which means pre-game tailgating starts about 6:00, depending on the intensity of the game. One of the main tailgating parties for Vandegrift is supported by Catholic church St. Thomas More. Every Friday night they bring friends, family, food and activities for the whole community to be involved in.

Other ways that many show their spirit and go all out are by making sure that their outfit consists of the primary colors of the team, painting their bodies and staying the whole game, beginning to end, to represent the team they came to watch. 

“For the past few years high school football has not been a big deal to me. But this year, I have gone to almost every game and I have made sure to rep my team while I write on my cheeks the school I’m representing,” junior Emily Alfaro said.

Most of the population at our school enjoys tailgating, whether you’re in athletics or PALS. The athletic program at our school is huge, with more than 50% of the population being involved in sports. Through the entire football season the support is needed for all freshmen, JV and Varsity players and they know they can depend on their classmates to have the spirit that will lead them to success.

“I am on the Varsity football team for Vandegrift and I know that if I wasn’t in the football program I would still come out to support my school every game of the season, including tailgating. The spirit that our fans come to the games with keeps our heads held high,” senior Cameron Harris said.