Football and royalty Above; Ellis Lopez goes up for the football in Friday’s game. Right, from top to bottom; King Trey Lindberg and Queen Skyley Ramsey. Prince Dusty LeBeau and Princess Alexa Braming, Count Connor Holloway and Countess Faith Ramsey. Duke Justin Johnson and Duchess Lizabeth Madrigal-Garcia. PHOTOS BY DAVE GIBSON[/caption]

On Friday, September 23, the parking lot next to the Teller House in Central City was abuzz in activity. It was Homecoming Day for the Gilpin County Eagles and students were busy making last-minute preparations to their costumes and floats for the annual parade. This year’s theme was “Movies from the 1980s.”

The freshman class chose the 1985 film Goonies. Their “aarghtfully” decorated float was complete with skeletons, cobwebs, a treasure map, and treasure chest. Eye patches, bandanas, and swords were essential accessories. The juniors traveled Back to the Future on a trailer rather than in a DeLorean. Sophomores were decked out in official uniforms and specter-fighting weaponry of the 1984 cinematic hit Ghostbusters. As the top guns at Gilpin High, the seniors logically selected the movie Top Gun as their film while riding on a F-14A Tomcat, keeping an eye to the sky for MIG-28s.

The Homecoming royalty were transported in open-air vehicles from which to wave to the crowd. Sophomores Count Connor Holloway and Countess Faith Ramsey occupied the back seat of a particularly nice ride – a mint condition late 60s fire red Camaro convertible.

The turnout at Gilpin County Stadium for the Homecoming football game was the largest I’ve ever seen. Not only alumni, family of the athletes, and parents of Pee Wee Cheer members were there, but people seeking an entertaining evening of football. The word is out – Friday and Saturday night football under the lights in Gilpin County is the place to be.

The Eagles were looking to build on their prior victory and came out ready to play. Fans got a thrill when sophomore Aiden Zeilbeck returned the opening kickoff eighty-two yards down the far sideline for a touchdown. Senior Zach Gebhart scored the first points of his high school football career on a successful 2- point conversion to put the Eagles ahead 8-0.

The South Park Burros fumbled the ensuing kickoff at their own 25-yard line. Taking advantage of good field position, Gilpin moved the football to the 2-yard line before sophomore Connor Holloway found paydirt on a quarterback follow play for Gilpin’s second touchdown of the evening. Employing their power tank set with their big men at running backs, Zach Gebhart barreled into the endzone for the conversion and a 16-0 lead.

South Park registered a touchdown to end the first quarter’s scoring. A safety in the second quarter brought the tally to Eagles 16, Burros 8. A nice drive by Gilpin took them to South Park’s 1-yard line. With no timeouts left, the clock ran out in the first half for the Eagles, unable to punch the ball into the endzone.

The performance at halftime by Pee Wee Cheer was a highlight for many. Spending a half day with the varsity cheerleaders practicing their routine a week before, forty-nine young girls (and three boys) ages three through ten took to the field to cheer on the team just as the cheerleading squad does every week. As cute as can be, some of them might even become Gilpin Eagles cheerleaders themselves one day.

Failure to score in the closing seconds of the first half turned the momentum of the contest. If the Eagles had gone up by two touchdowns, it would have forced the Burros into a passing game wherein the Eagles defenders could have disregarded the run and pinned their ears back going after the quarterback. Interceptions are more likely to occur under such a scenario. Instead, South Park was able to find its groove, enjoying success running the pigskin with their quarterback option. In his first start at linebacker, Gilpin sophomore Ryan Hanssen played the best game of his career as the leading tackler. Final score: South Park, 28, Gilpin, 16.

It was a hard loss for the players and coaches in a game they thought they should have won. In a rebuilding year that includes merely four upperclassmen on the entire roster, the players are still learning, growing, and getting better. It will be fun watching them as they continue to improve in the coming years.

The Eagles play home games against Front Range Christian, Friday, September 30, at 7 p.m., and against Lyons, Saturday, October 15, at 7 p.m. They close out the season with an away game at Boulder High School, Saturday, October 30, against Justice. The kickoff is at 1 p.m.

A big turnout Top, left, Pee Wee Cheer entertained at halftime. Top, right; James Niedert (54) and Mason Sechler wrap up a South Park Burro. Bottom, right; Who you gonna call? – the sophomore class, of course. Bottom, left; Aiden Zeilbeck hones his pass catching skills before the contest. PHOTOS BY DAVE GIBSON[/caption]