Dressed in costumes befitting the Gilpin Eagles’ 2023 Homecoming theme “Dinosaurs,” students busily prepared their floats in the staging area next to the Teller House for the 10 a.m. parade through Central City and Black Hawk on Friday, October 6. The royal court posed for pictures in front of a patinated lichen-encrusted wall made of rocks that predate when T-Rex ruled the planet. Timberline Fire’s meticulously polished vintage 1923 fire engine joined them for their Jurassic journey down the thoroughfare connecting the two historic towns. With school pride and spirit at fever pitch, the high schoolers tossed candy along the route to their cheering supporters. Real-life dinosaurs would be spotted among the alumni at Gilpin’s Homecoming football game later in the day.

“Dizzy Miss Lizzy” by the Beatles blasted from the press box for the benefit of Gilpin’s earliest graduates who were in kindergarten when the song hit the charts. The bleachers filled with the Eagles’ loyal followers and junior Danni Sternlicht sang a lovely rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Two weeks prior, the Eagles played South Park in an exciting away game that was decided on the last play of the contest. Trailing by 14 points with three minutes remaining, Gilpin drove the ball to South Park’s 7-yard line. A touchdown run by Ryan Marr brought them within eight. The ensuing onside kick was fielded by South Park, but fumbled away on the next play.

In possession of the football on their opponent’s 45-yard line with a minute and a half left, end runs out of bounds preserved the clock. A wave sweep pass took them to the 1-yard line and Drew Starkey plunged in for the score. With three seconds to go, the 2-point conversion was unsuccessful. Final score: South Park 26, Gilpin 24. Though a defeat, the boys rallied as a team showing extraordinary grit and fortitude, in turn providing inspiration and hope.

Connor Holloway fractured his wrist during the hard-fought battle knocking him out of the quarterback rotation, but may return to play defense later this year. Starting quarterback Drew Starkey sprained his knee the next week against Front Range Christian and is listed as week to week. In what Head Coach Craig Ball called “quarterback by committee,” Landon Church, Mason Sechler, and Ryan Marr would share the position’s duties for their Homecoming game.

Overmatched by the perennial powerhouse Byers Bulldogs from the start, Gilpin found themselves down 48-0 at halftime. It would have been nice if the score was close, but the Eagle’s faithful had come to support their team through thick and thin. Unlike some NFL stadiums where fair weather fans depart en masse when the game is out of reach, no one went home.

Hanging in there as best they could, Gilpin put together a couple of good drives in the second half, but if an Eagles’ MVP had to be named, it probably would have been punter Landon Church. The Bulldogs chose not to field a return man and most of Church’s kicks rolled long. Final score: Byers 62, Gilpin 0.

In a league where they often play bigger schools, the Eagles face another tough opponent October 12 in Lyons. Their next best chance at victory will be at home against Belleview Christian on October 21 and Justice, October 28, for their last game of the season. Regardless of the outcomes, the Eagles’ steadfast supporters will be there rooting for their favorite team.